The MOTHER of a 31 year old GROOM who plunged 14ft from a low-level balcony in Crete, suffering serious head injuries, was subjected to a horrific FOUR DAY journey back to Britain by BUS when his insurer refused to pay out and his tour operator TUI failed to step in.

Jordan Burrows, from Wigan had travelled to the Nana Beach Hotel with 42 of his friends and family for a 2-week trip, where he was due to wed his girlfriend of 10 years. But the trip of a lifetime turned into a nightmare when, on the EVE of his wedding, he tumbled over a knee-height landing wall, plummeting to the ground.

He sustained a depressed skull fracture with internal bleeding and an ankle fracture in the fall, and was rushed to Heraklion Hospital, where he spent a week. He was incredibly lucky to survive, but he faced a long recovery.

Jordan’s party liaised with TUI, the tour operator, yet both they and the insurance company declined to offer assistance, declaring the cause to be inebriation and leaving Jordan stranded in Greece.

Still recovering from serious head injuries, including fluid on his brain, Jordan and his mother were forced to make a 2,400 mile journey across Europe by bus and ferry, with assistance from friends in the UK and the Internet.

Jordan said: “What should have been the happiest day of my life turned into a nightmare. We had planned the ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the date we first met. I’m amazed it hadn’t happened to someone sooner given the low height of the wall on the landing, despite it being about 14 feet up. When you book a holiday to a 5-star hotel for your wedding with a tour operator like TUI, you expect a certain level of care and to be safe, but TUI failed to step in when we needed help.

“I was extremely lucky to survive the fall, albeit with serious head injuries. As I began to recover in the hospital, we assumed that the worst was over, but unfortunately it was only going to get worse, with a horrendous journey by land across Europe to get home to the UK. It was the worst four days of my life.”

Jordan has returned to work, but continues to suffer with ankle pain, fatigue, headaches and sleep disturbance. His mother also suffers with stress and has been forced to take time off work following the accident and the nerve-shattering journey to bring her son home. He complained to the insurance Ombudsman and his insurers eventually reimbursed his travel costs.

His partner Chloe explained “It was a horrendous ordeal for us as a family. I had to leave Jordan in Crete to bring our young children back home on the flight, and it was devastating to be separated from him, and I was so worried about his injuries and how the journey home would affect him.I was not able to work after the accident as Jordan needed me, and our little girl Bessie suffered with anxiety which was noted by her teacher.I wouldn’t want this to happen to any other family.”

Joanne Brine, Partner at JMW Solicitors, said: “Jordan’s accident took place in May 2018, yet to this date TUI has failed to comply with the usual protocol that we follow, nor to substantively respond, offer any apology or explanation for the despicable way this young man was treated. His fall - over an inexplicably low, unfit-for-purpose landing wall - not only ruined what should have been the best day of his life, but left him fighting for his life.

“TUI’s failure to communicate is particularly disappointing given the severity of the accident..”

Joanne’s team at JMW has been forced to apply to Court for an order to compel TUI to release the documents that will allow them to progress with his case.

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