A British woman who thought she had heatstroke and collapsed at the airport just before jetting back from holiday in Turkey is now fighting for her life.
Melissa Kinsella, known to her friends as Missy, was on holiday in Turkey with her partner Jay Smith, his family and three children, nine-year-old Chloe, four-year-old Beau and young Romi who is two.
The 30-year-old was all set to fly home to the UK on Monday (15 May) but she suddenly suffered from a seizure in the airport which caused her heart to stop and she collapsed.
Advert
From Moreton, Wirral, Melissa was rushed to hospital and her family was told by doctors she had swelling on her brain and heart.
The mum-of-three is now in a coma and unable to breathe for herself, leaving her in intensive care as she fights to stay alive.
Rebecca Dath, one of Melissa's best friends, said the 30-year-old had been complaining on social media the day before her collapse that she thought she might be suffering from heatstroke.
Advert
"She was vomiting, felt unwell and that was the day before," Rebecca told the Liverpool Echo about her friend's condition.
"When she got to the airport, she had a seizure and collapsed. That's been it since, she has been in intensive care on life support in Turkey."
"Doctors don't know what has caused it, but she has swelling on the brain and swelling on her heart. Missy's mum and dad were holidaying in Turkey in another area with Missy's auntie and uncles and partner."
The mum of three does not have any other underlying health issues and doctors told her family they will have to wait until the swelling on her brain reduces before they can do anything more.
Advert
With Melissa in a coma her family are unable to ask her if she had medical travel insurance, leaving them in financial difficulty as the Turkey hospital is charging them £1,800 a day for treatment.
As a solution the family have been looking into the possibility of paying for an air ambulance to bring Melissa home, though that would cost around £42,000.
Rebecca has now set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the cost where she describes her best friend as 'very, very popular' and 'well loved'.
Advert
The GoFundMe has been set up on behalf of Melissa's family to cover the costs of getting an air ambulance to fly her back to the UK and you can donate to it here.
Joe Harker