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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Paul Britton & Bradley Jolly

British dad fights for life after Lanzarote hotel balcony fall hours after arrival

A British dad is fighting for his life in hospital after plunging 30ft from a hotel balcony in Lanzarote.

Dan Boyle's accident happened on his family's first night in the Canary Islands, just hours after landing at the airport.

The 31-year-old man was resuscitated on the pavement and is now in hospital with severer injuries, including a fractured skull, a fractured breast bone and ribs.

He'll need a specialist medical flight to get back home, Manchester Evening News reports.

The father of two's heart stopped due to pneumonia, but he was unaware he had this infection at the time of the disaster.

Dan, pictured with his partner Ashleigh, had an undiagnosed chest infection (MEN/UGC)

Dan, who lives with his partner and two young kids in Stockport, Greater Manchester, fell from three storeys, his family said.

Friend Toni Albiston, who has launched a GoFundMe appeal, said Dan was since flown over to Gran Canaria - a flight medics feared he might not make - and had surgery to relieve pressure on his skull.

The friends flew out on April 23 - with the children staying at home with grandparents - and Dan currently still remains in hospital.

Toni said their insurance has covered the ongoing costs of his healthcare, but won't fund a specialist medical flight back home to the UK he needs.

The father has been in hospital for more than four weeks (MEN/UGC)

She said: "Dan was on the balcony and Ashleigh was inside the other room talking to her sister. This was on the first night. They had only been there for about six hours or so.

"Ashleigh came out to look for Dan and looked over the balcony to see him being resuscitated. We have been told a nurse was walking out of the hotel at the time and resuscitated him then called for help.

"When he got to hospital, Ashleigh was told that he had had a chest infection which was pneumonia. It caused his lungs to fill up with fluid and his heart to stop. They have told Ashleigh that it is possible that he is not going to be the same person when he gets better."

Ashleigh returned home to Stockport and the children two days ago.

Dan, said Toni, is now stable but can't talk or communicate.

Lanzarote is home to many beaches and tourist hotspots, like Puerto del Carmen (Getty Images)

She added in the GoFundMe blurb reads: "He was flown over to Gran Canaria and was told he may not make the flight. But he made it there and went straight for brain surgery for a fractured skull and to relieve pressure on his brain.

"Then it was a case of getting the fluid drained from his lungs. He was on oxygen and in an induced coma for the past three weeks.

"His lungs are now stable and he is off sedation, but is still unresponsive. We don't know if he's going to be the same person due to the brain damage."

Toni said Dan was now stable enough to fly home, but needed a medical flight and the insurance won't cover it.

"We need to get Dan home to his partner and his two children," she added. "Please help if you can."

Donate to the appeal here.

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