It’ll Never Happen to Me

Alec's Story.....
"At 23 I decided to travel around the world but what was meant to be the trip of a lifetime turned into a trip that was, in fact, life threatening.
I left the UK for South Africa on 1st March 2003 and travelled on to New Delhi, arriving there on 20th April. Whilst there I booked into a YMCA and became extremely unwell shortly after. On the 25th April I was admitted to East West clinic suffering from severe fever and diarrhoea.

On the 26th April I started having seizures and was transferred to Max Hospital Panchsheel Park, New Delhi, where I was diagnosed as suffering from cerebral malaria. My condition there became so critical that I had to be moved, on 28th April, unconscious, to Max Hospital, Noida, where specialists could treat me. I ended up in a coma and on ventilation.

My parents flew out from the UK and my brother from Australia to be with me, incurring travel, hotel and other expenses.

In the next few days my condition remained critical but stable and there was a gradual improvement in my state due to the superb treatment, care and expertise of all staff at Max Hospital; at one stage involving seven different specialists.

I was discharged on 17th May, accompanied by a Doctor from International SOS, to Derriford Hospital Plymouth.

Throughout my stay I was supported by my insurers ISIS, organised by STA Travel, and was thus able to avoid heavy medical bills. If I had not prepared properly and taken out insurance myself and my family would have incurred bills for thousands of pounds and I may not have recovered from this life threatening disease.

It is vital to ‘know before you go’, to prepare fully and to not have the attitude of “it won’t happen to me”.

As well as my insurers, I would also like to thank staff at YMCA, medical and admin staff at East West and Max Hospital and the staff of the British High Commission."