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I'm raising £3500 to Medical emergency, please get me home they have given me a court date 14th October 🥲 my poor cat back in the UK

Organised by Carl Ratcliffe
Health and medical

Story

no donations required now I have managed to sort a few things out Thanks for all the support

it’s now scary as not knowing is killling me, praying I don’t have another asthma attack as the hospital will kill me. So upset right now

The comments I am getting are making things worse, how can you want an extended holiday by going into a coma, impossible

I want to go home to my pets and my real life!

I just want to get home to my lovely cat Benji, heartbreaking no he’s been alone for 38 days only been fed by a Neighbour

my partner has returned to me now heartbroken that my cat cannot be here

Every morning I wake up hoping today will be the day I’m told I can finally come home.

Instead, I’m still in Turkey, separated from my family, my home and the life I worked so hard to build.

What began as a short holiday became a nightmare after I suffered two life-threatening asthma attacks and spent time in intensive care. Just when I thought the worst was over, I became caught up in legal proceedings that have left me unable to leave the country while the case is resolved.

The weeks have turned into months.

My savings have been drained by accommodation, food, medication, legal costs and everyday living expenses. My business has been put on hold, my future feels uncertain, and every day away from home takes another emotional and financial toll.

There have been moments where I’ve felt completely broken. But I’ve also seen incredible kindness from friends, strangers and people who have taken the time to share my story or send a message of support. Those small acts have helped me keep going.

If you’re able to donate, no matter how small the amount, it genuinely helps me survive until I can get home. If you can’t donate, simply sharing this page could reach someone who can.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing by me. I will never forget the people who helped me through the hardest chapter of my life.

Carl ❤️

Natalia had returned to me today,

Unfortunately the local MP meant to call me yesterday didn’t so we have now just messaged Burnham, let’s hope he makes it priority as he is now the new prime minister congratulations to him as a fellow Manchester lad

I’m still stuck still no news but Natalia brought my emergency medication which is biologics for Asthma

DAY 36 and still no news the court refused to speak with the British Embassy, still stuck here

# OUR HOLIDAY TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE... PLEASE HELP US GET HOME ❤️

A week in Turkey was supposed to be a chance to escape the stress of life in the UK before putting our house on the market. My partner, Natalia, and I were looking forward to a peaceful holiday together.

On the very first day, I felt slightly wheezy but otherwise okay. I suffer from severe brittle asthma, so I thought it was just one of those days.

Sadly, it wasn't.

Within a short time, I suffered a catastrophic asthma attack and was rushed to hospital, where doctors placed me into an induced coma.

A few days later I woke up. Although I still wasn't fully recovered, I was discharged and returned to our hotel to continue resting.

Just four days later, while walking through Bodrum, I suffered another severe asthma attack.

During the emergency, a paramedic arrived on a motorcycle and helped me from the ground. Struggling desperately to breathe, I leaned on the motorcycle for support and, unfortunately, it fell over and was damaged.

Instead of our holiday ending there, our nightmare was only just beginning.

The police arrived and I was arrested. I spent around 14 hours in custody before appearing in court the following day.

The court heard allegations that I resisted arrest and refused a breath test. From my perspective, I was in the middle of a life-threatening asthma attack and simply could not breathe into a breathalyser. I requested a blood test instead, which showed no alcohol in my system.

The judge recognised that I had suffered a medical emergency, but said the matter relating to the motorcycle required further investigation. We immediately offered to pay for any genuine damage, including through our insurance, but a travel restriction was placed on my passport while the investigation continued.

That was 32 days ago.

Since then, we have instructed three different solicitors.

The legal fees have become overwhelming.

We remain stuck in Turkey with no indication of when we will finally be allowed to return home.

What has made this even more heartbreaking is that our solicitors have told us the prosecution has still not even scanned the case documents onto the system. We appeared before the prosecution on the day of the alleged offence, yet, according to what we have been told, the paperwork still has not been processed. Meanwhile, we remain unable to leave the country.

To make matters worse, if our stay exceeds Turkey's 90-day limit because of this travel restriction, we have been told we could also face overstay penalties, despite not being free to leave.

Then, just four days after the court hearing, our insurance company advised me to return to hospital to renew my asthma medication.

I felt reasonably well that morning.

The next thing I remember is waking up five days later.

I had been placed into another induced coma.

Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.

When the breathing tube was removed, my throat became so dry it felt completely closed. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak. I desperately pointed towards a bottle of water, but because they couldn't communicate in English, nobody seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

I genuinely believed I was about to die.

My hands had been restrained to the bed.

Thankfully, Natalia walked into the room. She instantly realised I wasn't asking for anything complicated—I simply needed water.

She carefully poured a tiny amount into my mouth. Within seconds my throat began to relax. A small sound came out. I managed to free one hand, grab the bottle and drink. Almost immediately my airway opened and I could breathe and speak again.

That moment changed me forever.

I've never really feared dying before.

This time I did.

Now we are still trapped in Turkey because of the ongoing legal process surrounding the damaged motorcycle.

Our savings have disappeared.

Our legal costs continue to grow every day.

From Sunday, we will have no money left for accommodation or living expenses and genuinely face the prospect of being homeless in a foreign country.

We have repeatedly contacted the British Embassy and Consular services, but have been told they have no jurisdiction over the Turkish legal process and are unable to secure our return to the UK.

We have our home, our pets, our family and our entire life waiting for us in the United Kingdom, yet we remain unable to get home.

We're not asking anyone to take sides.

We're simply asking for kindness.

If you are able to donate anything at all towards our legal fees and helping us survive until we can finally return home, we would be incredibly grateful.

If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this post. Every single share could reach someone who is able to help.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can give us.

❤️ Carl & Natalia

#HelpCarlGetHome #StuckInTurkey #MedicalEmergency #BrittleAsthma #BringUsHome #TravelBan #LegalCosts #PleaseShare #GoFundMe #JustGiving #SupportNeeded #UnitedKingdom #Turkey #Bodrum #AsthmaAwareness #LifeCanChangeInSeconds #FamilyFirst #HolidayFromH

About fundraiser

Carl Ratcliffe
Organiser

Donation summary

Total
£245.00