By Alex West From The Sun UK

A British holidaymaker is stranded on a Caribbean island until he pays a £45,000 medical bill. Allan Cox, 45, fell ill while in the Dominican Republic and needed emergency surgery to remove his pancreas. But his insurance company refused to foot the £45,000 bill for his care – and he faces being away from his family for Christmas. Driver Allan’s passport has been seized and won’t be handed back until the bill for his treatment at the hospital is paid. Friends and family have now started a fundraising campaign in a bid to bring church-going Allan back to his home in Port Talbot, South Wales
Allan Cox, with wife Laisas, is being held ransom on Caribbean Island after racking up a £45,000 bill for emergency hospital Wales News Service

A BRITISH holidaymaker is being held to ransom on a Caribbean Island after racking up a £45,000 bill for emergency hospital treatment which he cannot pay.

Allan Cox, 45, fell ill in the Dominican Republic and needed surgery to remove his pancreas.

But his insurance company refused to foot the bill and his passport has been seized until he coughs up.

Driver Allan now faces Christmas away from his family and friends.

They started a fundraising campaign to bring church-going Allan back to his home in Port Talbot, South Wales.

Driver Allan now faces Christmas away from his family and friends
Driver Allan now faces Christmas away from his family and friends Wales News Service

Friend Raymond Davies said: “We are incredibly concerned for Allan’s well-being at the moment.

“At the end of the day, Allan’s life is at risk, and we need to make sure we get him home, pay off his debts and get him some medical treatment as soon as possible.

“The hospital want to discharge him on next Tuesday, but they say they are keeping his passport until he is able to pay for the treatment he has received.

“How on earth is he expected to get home? It’s disgusting.

“He is seriously ill, and we need as much support as we can get before it is too late.”

His mum Ceinwen Cox, 65, added: “It has got to be paid before they release his passport to him and there’s no way that I can get the money quick enough to get my son home.

“I’m frightened that I’m going to lose him.”

Allan was in the Dominican Republic to visit his wife Laisas
Allan was in the Dominican Republic to visit his wife Laisas Wales News Service

Allan was in the Dominican Republic to visit his wife Laisas who lives in the country but fell ill while abroad when gall stones became trapped in his pancreas.

He and Laisas married last year after meeting online through a Christian dating service and he was in the Caribbean country to celebrate their first anniversary as husband and wife.

His insurance company refused to pay for the costs as he failed to disclose he had a “pre-existing condition” – and was already due to have an operation on his gall bladder.

For more on this story go to: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6805362/Stranded-for-Christmas-Brit-held-to-ransom-on-Caribbean-island-over-hospital-bills.html