Potentially paralysed tourist stranded in Greece after balcony fall
Denby McLaren has a broken vertebra and multiple fractures to her foot
Potentially paralysed tourist stranded in Greece after balcony fall
Denby McLaren was in Greece to celebrate her 30th birthday
A Scottish tourist who fell from a balcony in Greece cannot get home because of the expense of a specialist flight.
Denby McLaren, from Larkhall, is currently unable to use her legs after the three-storey fall, which happened while she was in Rhodes celebrating her 30th birthday.
She has a broken vertebra and several fractures in her foot, and her family is now waiting to find out whether she has lasting injuries.
To return to Scotland, she needs an air ambulance with stretcher and medical support, but her travel insurance does not cover this. A fundraiser has now been launched to help.
Denby, who works as cabin crew for an airline, was on holiday with her mum Sharon when the accident happened on 6 October.
She has remained in hospital since then, while her partner Craig Anderson has travelled to Greece to be with her.
Leeanne Weir, a family friend, told BBC Scotland News: "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.
"Denby is a lovely girl, just a really sweet person. It's awful what's happened to her."
Denby's partner Craig has set up an online fundraiser
Although Denby has medical cover, it does not include the cost of the specialist repatriation she needs.
Leeanne said: "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."
The Go Fund Me page has so far raised about £19,000 of the £28,000 target.
Leeanne said: "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."