John Kearney was badly injured when he fell off a rented scooter in Turkey(Image: Joanna Kearney)
The family of a “happy” father, known for his “kindest heart”, were instructed to travel over 2,500 miles to Turkey to bid their farewells after he sustained a severe head injury from a scooter fall.
John Kearney, from Birkenhead, had journeyed to İçmeler, in Marmaris, for a holiday with his mates last month.
On the evening of Tuesday (September 30), the 64 year old was returning to his hotel when he fell off the rented scooter he was riding. He was promptly rushed to a nearby hospital, where he is now battling for his life following a grave head injury.
His daughter, Joanna Kearney, recounted the devastating phone call she received informing her of the incident. She revealed: “I got a phone call from his friend who he was with on Tuesday evening. He told me what happened and that dad was in hospital but none of it felt real, it still doesn’t feel real now.”
John Kearney, from Birkenhead, who had travelled to İçmeler, in Marmaris, for a holiday, pictured with his family(Image: Joanna Kearney)
Joanna added: “It’s like I’m watching TV and that it’s not really happening to me. My brain can’t keep up with everything that is going on.”
Two days after the accident, on Thursday (October 2), Joanna says the family were advised to fly to the country as hospital staff were planning to switch off John’s life support machine.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo this weekend, she said: “We got a phone call to say they [hospital staff] would turn his life support machine off today (Sunday, October 5) and the family had to come and say goodbye
“Me, my uncle and some friends have flown over to see dad, we’re staying in an apartment about an hour away from the hospital. At first the hospital wouldn’t let us go in and see him because when we arrived it was outside of visiting hours and then they said he couldn’t have visitors on a weekend.
“They eventually let me and my uncle in to see him. We asked for an update and they’ve said they would reduce the sedation he is on first to see if he has any reflexes and see if there are any signs of brain activity.”
Joanna revealed the family is battling to comprehend what’s happening to her father due to communication difficulties. She explained: “It has been really bad for us. We have no idea what is going on, if he is going to survive or how much hospital bills are going to cost or the costs of getting him home, dead or alive.
“We have so many unanswered questions and because of the language barrier we are struggling to know what is going on. I have children at home who are now having to stay with their dads, and I’m having to be away from them while we deal with this, they don’t know what’s going on with their grandad, it’s just so much to deal with.”
Joanna admitted she has “still not processed” the unfolding situation with her father, and to compound the mounting pressure, she alleges her dad’s insurance provider is refusing to cover the medical expenses because he “wasn’t wearing a helmet” during the accident. She reveals her father wasn’t provided with a helmet when he hired the scooter at his holiday destination.
She explained: “At first I thought it was odd that he wasn’t given a helmet, but now I’m here and walking around I can see that nobody has these helmets on.”
Joanna explains they won’t understand the full scope of John’s condition until the brain swelling subsides. She revealed: “Once that goes down we will know if he is going to make it. It’s so difficult, it’s soul destroying. I feel quite numb.”
The family are fundraising money towards John’s medical bills and getting him home to Merseyside. You can donate to the fundraiser here.