A British pub landlord claims he is being "held hostage" in a Spanish hospital with a £60,000 medical bill after his insurer refused to cover his costs because he had consumed alcohol.
Robert Atkinson, 67, became paralysed from the waist down during a holiday in Benidorm and required emergency spinal surgery.
His insurer, Zurich Insurance, has denied his claim due to traces of alcohol found in his blood following a meal with his wife.
The company also cited the fact he was treated at a private hospital as another reason for refusing coverage.
Robert Atkinson is known to friends as 'Benidorm Bob' due to his fondness for holidaying there
GOFUNDME
The 67-year-old, known to friends as "Benidorm Bob" due to his fondness for holidaying there, had been enjoying a final meal with his wife Carol, 64, when his legs suddenly gave way beneath him.
He managed to crawl to bed with the help of his mobility scooter and his wife, but woke up the next morning unable to move from the waist down.
Doctors discovered a small tumour had weakened his spine and caused a vertebra to collapse, leaving him unable to walk.
The pub landlord from York was rushed into emergency spinal surgery on April 6.
Just a day after his surgery, the couple were told their travel insurer wouldn't pay up.
Zurich Insurance cited three reasons for refusing coverage: traces of alcohol in Atkinson's blood, treatment at a private hospital, and medication not listed on his insurance form.
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He was rushed into emergency spinal surgery on April 6
His stepdaughter Amanda Liddle told the Daily Mail: "They also said he had alcohol in his system but they were on holiday in Benidorm. It is not as if he was excessively drunk.
"They had been out for a meal before their flight home the next day and had shared a bottle of wine. It's not like that would affect his spine."
The family were unaware he had been taken to a private facility.
Atkinson remains in the intensive care unit and is still unable to walk more than a week after his operation.
The couple are now stuck in Spain as they wait for a fit to fly certificate from Spanish doctors and his medical records to take back to the UK.
Meanwhile, their medical bill continues to grow.
His wife is struggling with the language barrier during this stressful situation and is having to use Google translate to speak to doctors.
Liddle explained: "It is very difficult for her being on her own out there but we are trying to support her from the UK as best we can."
The family have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the insurance costs and bring the Yorkshireman home.
"It is all very, very scary. Bob is in a lot of pain and highly frustrated," his stepdaughter said.
