Poppy-mae Crutchley, 29, from Worcester, is in a coma with organ failure after getting a tattoo during a hen do in Benidorm – her loved ones are by her side
A British woman is fighting for her life in a Spanish hospital after falling ill when she got a holiday tattoo in Benidorm during a hen night.
Poppy-mae Crutchley, 29, from Worcester, is in a coma with organ failure while her loved ones are by her bedside praying she pulls through. A friend who organised a GoFundMe appeal has said she suspects hospital cleaner Poppy could have suffered a bacterial infection from the tattoo or had her drinks spiked. Poppy’s dad Simon Crutchley last night posted a photo of his daughter hooked up to machines in a Spanish hospital. He said: “This is my daughter Poppy-mae Crutchley laid in a Spanish hospital bed fighting for her life.
“All I can put it down to is a tattoo she had on her wrist two days before this picture, Now she’s 29 but she’s still my little girl.
“I don’t believe in religion but if there’s a God up there then I beg you to send my baby a little help to pull through this because I need her. She’s too young and fantastic to be taken yet.”
Poppy fell ill on June 29 and initially sought treatment in a hospital near Benidorm before being transferred to another which has not been named.
Friend Jodie Odell outlined the horror turn of events which has led to the tourist ending up in a coma in the GoFundMe appeal she has set up which has already raised nearly £5,000 of its £14,000 target. She said: “Please if you could take a moment of your time to read this and share it amongst everyone you know.. Poppy needs your help!
“I’m absolutely devastated to be writing this but Poppy we need you desperately. Poppy is in a coma in Benidorm, her heart, kidneys and lungs are failing and her condition is critical, her family really need your help with the power of social media to help raise money to get her the treatment she needs, to pay for the ongoing medical bills, to support the family whilst out there at her bedside and most importantly to bring her home where she belongs.
“We are urgently asking for your help, no matter how little, it all adds up and will go a long way to helping our Poppy with the care and treatment she needs. Please, please PLEASE if you can, donate. Every penny will be so extremely appreciated! Poppy is 29 and she’s a beautiful, bright, charismatic kind young woman with her whole life ahead of her.
“She is the youngest of four with a family who adore her, she has three nephews (one whose birthday she fell ill on – 29th June), a newborn who is 12 days old and an unborn one who is due in December. She’s the light and joy to all our lives but especially her nephews.. and not forgetting her new puppy waiting for her, the puppy she has put before her own needs countless times since having her, she’s that kind of person with a heart of gold.
“We see each other almost every day, she doesn’t deserve this and our hearts are breaking with out her home. Poppy went away on her first girls holiday for a friend’s hen do.
“On the first day Poppy enjoyed herself with friends, a couple of drinks and even had a tattoo. Instantly after the tattoo Poppy felt unwell, that unwell that she had taken herself to the hospital where instantly and amazingly they acted straight away due to no oxygen in her body and fluid on her heart.
“Poppy was transferred to another hospital in Spain last night that specialises in what she needs. As it stands currently, they are unsure at this moment in time if it is a bacterial infection (from the tattoo maybe?) or if she has been spiked.
“We all have faith in getting her back to her normal bubbly beautiful self, and with your help we can give her the best chance possible. The last thing the family need to be worrying about at a time like this is the ongoing costs, which as you can imagine are rising daily. Please find it in your heart to help if you can.”
Poppy’s brother Kyle responded overnight to hurtful comments by online trolls she had ended up in hospital because she had drunk too much and had “stupidly” jetted to Spain on holiday with no travel insurance.
He said in a Facebook post, revealing their mum and another sister had flown out to be by Poppy’s side: “I just wanted to clear up a few things since this comment section is pretty wild. Poppy is covered by insurance and is getting amazing treatment. We as a family are extremely grateful.
“But the insurance does not cover all things and she is now in a specialist hospital to which we are currently unaware of any hidden costs. The GoFundMe which Jodie kindly set up was mainly to keep our mum and other sister by Poppy’s side as much as possible during this uncertain time as she is in a critical state and all donations are appreciated more than you know and thank you to all who have donated.
“As I’m sure you’re all aware insurance doesn’t cover feeding my mum or sister or renting a place for them to stay while out there or even paying towards travel to and from the hospital so arguments about insurance are irrelevant. Also alcohol has not been a factor in her illness. Hope that clears a few things up. Thank you all who are here for Popp. She’s a fighter and will no doubt be back to her normal self sooner rather than later.”