The family of a 20-year old west Belfast man, who suffered a broken back while on holiday in Ibiza, have spoke of their relief after the NHS agreed to meet the cost of a life saving operation.
Sean Paul McCabe from Hannahstown booked the holiday at the last minute after a friend cancelled and didn't get any travel insurance. He damaged his spine after diving head first into the shallow end of a swimming pool four days into the holiday.
He underwent emergency surgery to reduce pressure on his spine but an operation to reinforce his back with metal rods to allow him to walk again was delayed over issues with the cost of the medical treatment.
Speaking to The Irish News last night Gerard McCabe said his son would now receive the operation on Thursday after they received confirmation that the NHS would cover the cost of the operation.
However, the family still need to raise funds to fly the trainee plumber home when he is well enough to travel.
"We think it might be three of four weeks before Sean Paul is well enough to fly and we still don't know how the cost of that will be met", said Mr McCabe
"In the meantime we're struggling with the day to day living costs, we've been quoted 4,000 Euro for accommodation, and that was someone doing us a favour.
"It's a very expensive place but we really don't want to have to leave Sean Paul here to recover by himself".
A gofundme page set up to help with additional costs has so far raised almost £7,000.
Mr McCabe thanked all the people who had offered to help and also praised staff at the San Antonio medical centre who he said have provided "excellent" care to his son.
In 2011 the Irish News reported on how the then 16-year-old narrowly escaped serious injury after being attacked by a gang of armed youths, he suffered cuts and bruises in the attack.
Mr McCabe said his son's experience in Ibiza should be a warning to young people to never travel without the proper health insurance.
"Sean Paul booked on the holiday on the Thursday, travelled to Dublin for his passport on Friday and was in Ibiza by Saturday, obviously no one could have predicted what was going to happen but it's been made much worse by not having insurance.
"We're grateful that the cost of the operation is being met by the NHS but we had a wait while it was finalised and that's delayed Sean Paul's treatment.
"It's the one thing we really want to get across to young people after what's happened to us, that insurance really is essential," he added.
www.gofundme.com/8s3ugve4
