Family seeks urgent funds to fly Windsor resident home from Gran Canaria
A Windsor family has launched a public appeal after a 43-year-old man from the town was left critically ill while on holiday in the Canary Islands. The patient, identified by relatives as Paul Grant, was put into an induced coma and remains on a ventilator in hospital in Gran Canaria following a violent seizure that led to further complications.
The incident occurred during the family’s first night away on September 11. According to relatives, Mr Grant suffered a seizure and then fell, sustaining head injuries that resulted in brain bleeds. Surgeons in the Canary Islands reportedly removed part of his skull in a bid to save his life.
His sister, aged 29, who lives in Windsor and has been visiting him in hospital, said the family have been advised that medics believe he can hear those around him, but they are still awaiting clarity on why the initial seizure happened.
“It’s absolutely devastating… We love Paul so much, we don’t know what to do with ourselves.”
The family have set up a GoFundMe with a target of £41,999, the sum they say is required to secure a specialist medical airlift capable of transporting Mr Grant back to the UK from Gran Canaria. The page notes that current care is being delivered at University Dr Negrín Hospital, one of the main hospitals on the island.
- Patient: Paul Grant, 43, long-time Windsor resident
- Location of incident: Lanzarote / Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)
- Date of incident: Night of 11 September (family’s first night of holiday)
- Current condition: Induced coma, ventilator-assisted breathing, post-surgical care for brain bleeds
- Fundraising target: £41,999 for specialist airlift
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hospital | University Dr Negrín Hospital, Gran Canaria |
| Medical intervention | Emergency surgery; partial removal of skull to relieve intracranial pressure |
| Family action | GoFundMe launched to cover repatriation costs |
Relatives say they have been visiting Mr Grant as often as hospital rules allow and are continuing to work with medical staff on the island. They have also been left trying to piece together what caused the first seizure — a key question for his long-term care and any plans for transfer.
Local implications and practical hurdles
Repatriating a critically ill patient from overseas is complex and expensive. Specialist air ambulances provide medically monitored transport but must be equipped to handle intensive care needs en route, which helps explain the high quoted cost for the family. Even with funds raised, repatriation requires clinical approval from treating doctors, coordination with receiving NHS teams in the UK, and suitable arrangements at both ends of the journey.
For Windsor residents, the case underlines how a routine holiday can swiftly become a cross-border medical and logistical emergency. Neighbourhood networks and local fundraising have previously played significant roles in similar cases, and the family’s public appeal seeks to draw on that community support.
At the time of publication, the family’s GoFundMe remained active and was seeking donations to meet the full quoted cost of the specialist transfer. Hospital staff on the island have, according to updates the family shared, said they believe Mr Grant can hear those around him, giving relatives cautious hope while clinical decisions continue.
We will update this report as further details become available and if the family provides information on how local supporters can help beyond the online fundraiser.
