A Scottish tourist who fell from a balcony in Greece remains unable to travel home due to the substantial cost of specialist medical transport, with her family racing to raise funds for her repatriation.
Denby McLaren from Larkhall suffered a three-storey fall on 6 October while holidaying on the island of Rhodes to mark her 30th birthday. The accident has left her unable to move her legs, and she has sustained a broken vertebra along with multiple fractures to her foot. Medical staff are still assessing whether the injuries will result in permanent paralysis.
McLaren, who works as cabin crew for an airline, was accompanied by her mother Sharon at the time of the incident. Her partner Craig Anderson travelled to Greece immediately after the accident and has remained at her side throughout her hospital stay.
Why can't she return home immediately?
Although McLaren holds medical travel insurance, the policy does not cover the cost of specialist air ambulance repatriation with stretcher facilities and medical personnel—the only safe way for her to return to Scotland given her condition. According to reports from a Scottish news outlet, the family also faces a separate hospital bill in Greece. The combination of these costs has created an urgent financial crisis for the family.
Leeanne Weir, a close family friend, explained the mounting pressures:
The worry is also that the longer she is there in Greece all the other bills are going up for every extra day they are there. Apart from the severity of the injuries they have the language barrier and the added pressure of just trying to get home.
What is the family's fundraising situation?
Craig Anderson established an online fundraiser to cover the repatriation costs and associated medical expenses. According to coverage from a regional news source, the appeal had raised nearly £14,000 by 13 October, when McLaren released an emotional statement thanking supporters through her boyfriend. However, another report indicated the family's initial target was £12,000, though earlier figures cited a £28,000 goal to cover all expenses including the hospital bill.
Weir emphasised the importance of community support:
It doesn't have to be a huge contribution - we have had a phenomenal response from people so far, whether it's £5 or £50. We just want to get her home and start being cared for at home.
What do those close to her say about her condition?
Weir described the severity of McLaren's situation while acknowledging her survival:
It's absolutely horrific. She can't move her legs, she has a broken vertebra and multiple broken bones. The biggest worry is that she can't move her legs and we don't know whether this has affected her spine and if she will be paralysed. But she is also lucky to be alive after a fall like that.
She added that McLaren is well-liked and that the accident has shocked those who know her.
Denby is a lovely girl, just a really sweet person. It's awful what's happened to her.
Key Facts
- McLaren fell from a three-storey balcony on 6 October during a birthday trip to Rhodes
- She has a broken vertebra and multiple foot fractures; doctors are still determining if paralysis will be permanent
- Her travel insurance covers medical care but not specialist air ambulance repatriation
- The family faces both repatriation costs and a separate hospital bill in Greece
- An online fundraiser has been collecting donations to bring her home for continued care in Scotland
