Flipped fate – a family trip gone wrong

Adventure tourism has seen a significant rise in popularity, with travellers seeking thrillinducing experiences across the globe going further and more remote than ever. However, these excursions are not without risks and can sometimes lead to tragic and life-changing situations.

The incident

A Swedish family of four set out on a picturesque Greek island, looking to explore its rugged terrain on rented all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) after having just arrived the day before. The father and teenage son shared one ATV, while the mother and younger daughter rode another.

As they navigated the winding dirt roads, the father and son decided to veer off the designated path for a more adventurous ride. The terrain, however, proved unpredictable. While attempting to cross a curb at high speed, the ATV flipped mid-air. The father, having unfastened his helmet due to the heat, was thrown against the steering wheel before being ejected from the vehicle. His head struck the pavement, rendering him unconscious on impact. His teenage son, seated in front, was violently slammed against the ATV’s frame and became trapped beneath the overturned vehicle, crying out in immense pain. The mother and daughter, witnessing the incident, quickly flagged down passing vehicles for assistance. Emergency services were dispatched, and paramedics arrived promptly. Both father and son were airlifted to the nearest hospital for emergency care due to the remote terrain the accident occurred in.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the father was diagnosed with severe head trauma, requiring urgent transfer to a specialised neurological facility on a neighboring island. Meanwhile, the teenage son’s condition was equally critical – he suffered from acute abdominal trauma, including a liver injury with significant internal bleeding and a ruptured bowel, necessitating multiple emergency surgeries and intensive care.

The mission

Malteser Aeromedical was engaged to oversee his case right away, ensuring continuous monitoring and facilitating communication between the hospital, the family on site, as well as Malteser’s assessment doctors who kept a close eye on the situation. After three weeks in the ICU ward in the local hospital, the son was finally declared fit to fly, with the team of Malteser Aeromedical starting to plan a highly specialised medical repatriation to Sweden. Given the risk of trapped air in the bowel expanding at altitude, a decision was made to conduct the flight at sea level cabin pressure – an essential but logistically complex requirement for medical transport teams. Swiftly, a specially equipped Learjet 45 was prepared for the mission, and the medical team made its way from Cologne to Greece.

This was a complex case involving a family facing unimaginable trauma

Upon arrival, Malteser’s Medical Team proceeded directly to the hospital to retrieve the patient. Thanks to the comprehensive briefing provided by the Assistance Agents in Germany, all necessary preparations had been made, ensuring the patient was ready for transport.

Accompanied by his mother and sister, the young patient was carefully transported to the airport and flown back to Stockholm, where he was admitted for further care to the local University Hospital. Meanwhile, his father remained in Greece under intensive neurological supervision, deemed unfit to travel at the same time as his son.

This was a complex case involving a family facing unimaginable trauma, with Malteser Aeromedical providing support to all members of the family – from the first emergency call to the safe repatriation of the young son. Thankfully, after a seamless medical transfer, the patient can now continue his recovery in the comfort and familiarity of his home country, surrounded by friends and family