The devastated family of a grandmother fighting for her life in Turkey claim she is being 'held hostage' by a 'prison camp' hospital, which will not release her until she pays tens of thousands of pounds in medical bills.
Fiona McCusker-Rea, 52, was taken to an intensive care unit at a private hospital in Antalya on Thursday after falling to the floor of her room at the luxurious Prenses Sealine Beach Hotel, where she was found covered in blood.
The chef, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, has been diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding, liver cirrhosis and sepsis — and her children, Cody Wood and Courtney McCusker, do fundraising to repatriate her for treatment.
Mr Wood, who has been flown to Antalya Private Life Hospital to see his mother, told MailOnline: 'They are going to hold her hostage unless she pays the full bill, which could amount to more than tens of thousands of pounds.'
He added: “It's like a prison camp. That's what it feels like.'
The 25-year-old also told how he walked into a mixed ward and found his mother unconscious and exposed 'with her breasts' on one occasion – and tied to the bed on other occasions.
Mr Wood also shockingly claimed it took 45 minutes for hotel staff to come to her room – after which they allegedly saw the blood on the floor and said 'Ew', closed the door and walked out again.
Fiona McCusker-Rea (left) is pictured with her daughter Courtney and her granddaughter Havana
The grandmother of two is currently receiving treatment at Antalya Private Life Hospital in Turkey
Fiona McCusker-Rea is fighting for her life in a hospital in Turkey. Her son, Cody (pictured together), is desperate to take her home for treatment
Mrs McCusker-Rea, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, is pictured at Manchester United's stadium, Old Trafford
Mrs McCusker-Rea had flown to Turkey for a solo holiday after her mother's death. Her children had advised her against going alone, but she was determined to travel anyway.
About four days later, Courtney received a FaceTime call from their mother who was lying on the floor, covered in blood and with her “eyes rolling around.”
Mr Wood said he then intervened and immediately called his mother, who managed to drag herself onto the bed. She tried to call reception but couldn't get through and started shouting for help but no one came.
Mr Wood tried to call the hotel 'probably 10 or 11 times' but was also unable to get through and eventually called the police at his home. He said British police were finally able to get through 'after 45 minutes'.
'It was an absolute nightmare, time was of the essence, especially when she was covered in blood and vomiting blood. Someone had to be there in seconds,” he said angrily.
While police were on their way, Mr Wood was told that hotel staff would support her in the meantime, but they did not arrive for another 20 minutes.
He continued, “My sister stayed on FaceTime and eventually the staff arrived. When they walked into the room there was blood all over the floor, the hotel staff said “Ew” and closed the room and left. At this point I wanted to take the head off.”
Ms McCusker-Rea, 52, was rushed to an intensive care unit at a private hospital in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday. She is pictured here on a previous holiday
The mother of two is pictured with her husband, Nick Rea
Mrs McCusker-Rea had flown to Turkey for a solo holiday after her mother's death. They are pictured here together
Mrs. Wood is a mother of Cody (left) and a grandmother of her daughter Finley's son (right)
Mrs McCusker-Rea is pictured with her daughter (left) and her late mother (right)
Mr Wood, pastoral head of a secondary school, said an ambulance arrived about 40 minutes later and took her an hour away to Antalya Private Life Hospital – reportedly leaving out the three state hospitals because 'there was no ICU' .
“I don't believe this,” he said. 'Every hospital has an ICU. At this time, my mother cannot give permission that she wants to go private or state-owned, she was unable to say anything.”
Mr Wood flew to Turkey on Friday and rushed straight to hospital, where he was allowed to spend just two minutes with his mother because it was 'not visiting hours'.
After explaining the situation, he was allowed to see her briefly and said she looked “okay, but disoriented.”
“The next day they said I couldn't come visit until 2:30 in the afternoon,” he said. 'I visited her. When I arrived she was unconscious, she had deteriorated much further. She was completely naked, they took off all her clothes and took a blanket off her.
'This is an open mixed department in the ICU. Her breasts had just come out. As a son you don't want to see that, knowing that there are men and women in the department. I covered her and said, “What's so crazy?” They said they didn't speak English.
The family desperately tries to get their mother home. She is pictured here paragliding on holiday last year
“It was frustrating, upsetting because you don't want anyone to be left in that position. If you walked into a ward, especially in the UK, you wouldn't see someone completely naked. I really wondered where she was.'
On another occasion he explained: 'One day she was tied to the bed and immediately the alarm bells started ringing about what was going on. They later explained that hemorrhagic shock could put her at risk to herself and risk waking up in a confused state.
“Okay, it makes sense, but I would expect communication from doctors to let me know what they're doing.”
The family has been told that she may need to be hospitalized for several weeks and that she does not have enough money to pay the expensive bills.
Mr Wood continued: 'The hospital here in Turkey have said that they will not let her leave hospital, even if she is fit or able, unless she pays up.
“The only way she can leave is if she is medically repatriated on a private jet with specialist equipment and doctors, or a commercial jet with doctors.”
Mr Wood says the hospital does not consider her fit to leave on a commercial flight, so they should choose the private option.
'We looked into that and had quotes from £35,000 to £49,000. It all depends on what she needs. We hope that £35,000 will cover the flight and the rest of the money will go towards medical costs whilst we are here in Turkey.
Cody doesn't want his mother (pictured together) to be 'exploited'
'Right now she can't move at all. She is in bed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
'That's where costs will continue to rise: in the hospital. Someone else told us it costs £1,500 to £2,500 a day to be there, but the hospital has not been able to share the cost.
'It's just a situation I wouldn't wish on anyone. I've read other articles about hospitals holding people captive until they pay their bills. We just want her back as soon as possible.
'When she's not there, she can't talk, she can barely open her eyes. To me it feels like everything here is about the money. They want to get as much money as possible, so every day she doesn't pay is a day she owes another £1,500.
'I don't want to be exploited while she is here, because she doesn't speak the language, they don't know the ins and outs. I'm afraid she will be exploited.
'It's a holiday from hell. You expect that you come on vacation to have a good time and relax. You don't expect a £50,000 medical bill, whatever it will be. It's not what you expect.'
The family believes the chances of them claiming the insurance money are “slim to none” due to pre-existing medical conditions.
Mr. Wood says he appreciates the hospital's care for her, but he disagrees with some of the ways they cared for her.