17 August 2005 Brit faces massive medical bill
A British scuba diver suffering from decompression sickness is facing a battle with his insurance company after having his claim for cover rejected.
Anthony Allen, from Shirley in the West Midlands, is facing a medical bill of £40,000 after getting the bends while diving in Marsa Alam, Egpyt.
Doctors have told him that he will need to undergo treatment for six hours a day, for a duration of three weeks.
Mr Allen had travel insurance in place, but was only covered to dive to a depth of 30m.
His travel insurance was held with Lloyds TSB insurance, who said in a statement: "The tour company which Mr Allen was diving with has confirmed that he reached a depth of 49.5 metres immediately prior to seeking medical assistance.
"We also have confirmation from doctors treating him that his illness is directly related to him participating in a dive to that depth. Therefore we are unable to accept this claim."
Mr Allen's son, Mark, claims that this is not the case: "We are currently trying to get a document from Egypt to give to the insurance company.
"It explains that my father's illness was caused by dehydration. How deep he went is beside the point."
Archive Travel Insurance News Stories
Related Travel Insurance News
26 March 2008 Women 'confident' to travel alone
Women have become more confident to travel to traditional and emerging... [more]
26 March 2008 Paris and Bruges 'are emerging destinations for city breaks'
Paris and Bruges have been named as emerging destinations for city breaks in... [more]
26 March 2008 Princess takes birthday trip to traditional ski resort
Princess Eugenie, daughter of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and the Duke of... [more]
26 March 2008 Snow falls across Europe
Snow has been falling across Europe in the past week, leaving many traditional... [more]
Get a travel insurance quote today from Travel Insurance Web, comprehensive cover at an amazingly low price.
