A British woman who suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries during a hiking fall in the US has now fallen victim to insurance and is trapped abroad as a result.
Charlotte Hollins Anderton, from Abergele, north Wales, plummeted 30ft while celebrating Independence Day with children from the summer camp she works in.
The 23-year-old endured an eight-hour wait to be rescued – with a fractured spine, two shattered feet and internal bleeding.
She required numerous operations, intensive care treatment and on top of it, emotional trauma from the incident, which took place on July 4.
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If her suffering was not enough, her family now say her insurance coverage has been turned down.
This means Charlotte now faces a bill of £45,000 to bring her back home to the UK.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist in repatriating her and so far, more than £16,000 have been raised.
A statement on the website reads: ‘Our beautiful Charlotte was tragically involved in a life changing accident whilst working as a camp leader this summer.’
‘She has suffered a life threatening fall on July 4 and has been hospitalised since.
‘Her fall resulted in spinal and foot fractures requiring multiple surgeries, internal bleeding and admission to the intensive care unit.
‘She is also dealing with intense emotional trauma from the fall, and it breaks our hearts that we can’t be there to help.
‘But on top of all of the unimaginable pain and suffering, while we have been deciding what to do as a family, we were just hit with another worry that her insurance company will not be covering the cost of repatriation from America to back home.
‘She urgently needs to come home for her to access specialist care via the NHS and continue her recovery with family by her side.’
The family explained that they never thought they would find themselves in such a situation, but all they want ‘is to have Charlotte home’.
The statement added: ‘We will be keeping everyone updated every step of the way, and thank you all so much already for your kind words, promises of donations and support.
‘It means more to us than you could imagine. Thank you so much.’
Charlotte – a University of York St John graduate from a Professional Policing course – spent last summer at YMCA Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor, Washington.
She had returned as a camp leader for a second year in a row when the fall took place.
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