Vacation turns sour: Lone man with a fractured bone from a couple is taken to Munich
Peter W., a 79-year-old man from Karlsfeld, suffered multiple bone fractures in his right leg during an excursion in Budapest. The incident occurred during a night tour called "Budapest by Night" on the third day of a Danube cruise that started in Passau. His wife, Rosemarie W., contacted ADAC (Automobile Club of Germany) for medical repatriation after the accident.
Initially, Peter was taken to a hospital in Budapest for initial medical care. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was immediately admitted and operated on right away at the Schwabing hospital. The doctor in Budapest recommended that Peter have the necessary operation done in Germany.
However, the ADAC repatriation of the couple W. has been delayed in recent months due to border controls and restrictions related to military maneuvers and security measures. The return transport to Munich took a long time for Peter and Rosemarie. The incident involved a cruise ship named Belvedere.
The couple's daughter took over organizing the repatriation from Germany. A representative of the shipping company arranged a taxi for the couple to a doctor who could issue the transport certificate needed for the flight home. However, ADAC did not have a plane ready immediately for the repatriation. A spokesperson for ADAC SE explained that they needed to clarify everything before they could put the patient on the plane, ensuring optimal medical care at home after landing.
Fortunately, since the couple was fully insured, the costs incurred have been largely reimbursed by ADAC. Nevertheless, the incident caused significant stress for the couple from Karlsfeld. Three months after the accident, Rosemarie was informed that it could take up to three days for a plane to be ready for the repatriation. In the end, the couple had to organize the repatriation themselves due to the delay in ADAC's response.
The ADAC, upon being contacted for comment, clarified that they aim to provide the best possible care for their members in such situations and are continually working to improve their response times and processes. They expressed their sincere regret for any inconvenience caused to the W. family and wished Peter a speedy recovery.
