TWO couples are calling for action after their dream trips abroad turned into 'holidays from hell'.

Ted Grounsell, 46, of Hitchman Drive, Chipping Norton, was rushed into intensive care in Spain - but discharged himself early because he felt he couldn't afford to stay.

After just three days in hospital in Torremolinos, Ted, who had to be resuscitated four times after being found in a coma, decided he had to leave so he could afford additional hotel bills, taxi fares and flights home for himself and wife Pat. He claims insurance firm General Accident told him they didn't know enough about the case to immediately pay his bills.

Although General Accident has since covered most of his £500 costs, he is furious he was 'abandoned' by the company while abroad and has made an official complaint to the insurance ombudsman.

The couple had booked the holiday so Ted could build up his strength for the latest in a series of knee operations.

However, the holiday turned into a nightmare when Pat discovered her husband in a coma in their bedroom. He had collapsed from a combination of heat exhaustion, dehydration and strong new morphine painkillers which he had been prescribed by his GP just before he went on holiday.

Ted said: "While I was in intensive care Pat phoned and faxed General Accident and was told there would be no problems and hoped I would get well soon. Then Pat was told General Accident would not pay the day after I was moved out of intensive care.

"We just could not believe it and I was not going to stay in a private hospital running up bills of hundreds of pounds."

A spokesman for General Accident said the company was not prepared to comment as the complaint was still being assessed by the ombudsman.

John and Freda Muir are taking action after a string of complaints about their three-month cruise with Saga. Freda, 68, of Shipton-under-Wychwood, kept a detailed diary of all the problems but said Saga has only offered them a short Mediterranean cruise or £500 compensation.

"I am livid and intend taking matters further, We never want to set foot on one of their ships again." she said.

Problems included the cruise missing several ports of call and spending eight days at sea without seeing land, leaking water in their cabin, poor air conditioning and a passenger lounge ceiling caving in.

She said: "After complaining I received a letter from Saga's chairman Richard De Haan in which he said 'this was desperately bad luck and I hope you will agree'. I am going to fight this all the way I am so upset and angry."

A spokesman for Saga Group Limited Miss Frances Liddiard said: "The early part of the Saga Rose's inaugural world cruise was hit by delays caused by a combination of unfortunate circumstances which forced us regrettably to make changes to the first part of the ship's itinerary in early January. The vast majority of passengers have accepted our offer. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee to satisfy everyone caught up in the aftermath of such problems. and Mr and Mrs Muir are one of those couples. We are still talking to Mr and Mrs Muir and have put an alternative proposal which, we hope, will be acceptable to them."

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