Emma Hickey, 42, her husband Stephen Brougham, 44, and their two young children arrived in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain on 13/6 for a sunny getaway. Just days into their vacation, Emma awoke with multiple mosquito bites and felt unwell. Despite this, she persevered, determined not to disrupt her children's enjoyment.
By 23/6, Emma's condition worsened, prompting a visit to a local hospital where she received an injection. The doctor expressed surprise at the severity of the bites, claiming to have never seen such a reaction in Spain. Later that day, while descending the hotel stairs to visit a pharmacy, Emma became dizzy, fell, and hit her head on a concrete step.
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Stephen, Emma and their two children. Photo: Mirror |
Stephen, Emma and their two children. Photo: Mirror
Stephen, who witnessed the incident, described the "horrifying" experience of seeing his wife convulsing on the stairs after losing consciousness. Emma was rushed to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed a brain hemorrhage and a fractured neck. She was placed in a medically induced coma and remains in intensive care.
Stephen suspects the combination of numerous mosquito bites, medication, the heat, and Emma's efforts to push through her illness contributed to the fall. The bites themselves were painful, numerous, and had begun to bruise.
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Emma's mosquito bites. Photo: Mirror |
Emma's mosquito bites. Photo: Mirror
With mounting medical bills reaching 1,400 USD per day and the high cost of their current hotel, Stephen is now searching for alternative accommodation for himself and his children while Emma recovers. He is also concerned that their travel insurance may not cover all the expenses. The combination of exorbitant hotel costs and childcare responsibilities is placing immense pressure on Stephen, especially as he is unable to work during this time.
Hoai Anh (Mirror)
