An elderly British woman is in critical condition at a Croatian hospital following a sudden illness on a flight returning from a popular vacation destination. Gina Thomson, a resident of Dundee, was on her way back to Scotland on September 9 after a holiday in Turkey when she fell unconscious during the flight, prompting the aircraft to divert to Zagreb, Croatia, to seek urgent medical attention.
Cabin crew members made valiant efforts to assist Gina for approximately 45 minutes before the plane landed in Zagreb, where she was swiftly transported to the hospital and placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. Aileen Willard, Gina’s close friend who was accompanying her on the trip, recounted the distressing incident, mentioning that Gina had been showing flu-like symptoms before the flight, which escalated rapidly.
Medical evaluations revealed that Gina, who was uninsured for the trip, was suffering from pneumonia, COPD, and other undisclosed health conditions. Despite being taken off the ventilator and regaining consciousness after a period of uncertainty, Gina’s health remains precarious as she continues to battle bronchitis.
Aileen shared that Gina underwent a tracheostomy procedure to aid her breathing and required heavy sedation for weeks. While her condition has improved, there are intermittent setbacks in her health. The medical team in Croatia is open to facilitating Gina’s transfer back home, but it necessitates specialized medical assistance. To cover the expenses of a medical evacuation flight to Scotland, a fundraising campaign has been initiated with a target of £25,000.
Expressing the urgency to reunite Gina with her family, Aileen mentioned the financial challenges associated with the transport, as the British Embassy cannot provide financial aid for such operations. The primary goal now is to bring Gina back home to recuperate in familiar surroundings and rebuild her strength with her loved ones by her side, ideally in time for Christmas. An online fundraiser has been established to support Gina’s repatriation efforts.
