A painful encounter in Puerto Escondido

Nowadays, the variety of travel experiences and destinations is broader than ever: exotic places for extreme adventures, spots for practising risky sports, or remote natural environments to reconnect with nature. This diversity makes any medical incident during a trip seem harder to manage. However, health risks can arise at any time and place – even in the most ordinary situations. At Iris Global, a brand specialised in international medical assistance, we’ve seen hundreds of cases like this. One of them is the story of the woman featured here.

The patient

A 42-year-old Spanish woman was travelling along Mexico’s Pacific coast with two friends. On the morning of 6 May, while walking through the popular town of Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca, the accident occurred. A dog – of which she remembers very few details – suddenly attacked and bit her on the right leg.

Her screams of pain made her friends realise something serious had happened. And they were right. The dog had caused a deep wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding.

She was immediately taken to María de Lourdes Hospital, where she received urgent medical care. The diagnosis was clear: a dog bite with maceration of subcutaneous fatty tissue, muscle laceration, and avulsion of one of the heads of the triceps surae in the right calf. In other words, the bite had caused severe damage to various parts of her leg, even tearing part of a muscle.

The mission

After the diagnosis, she was admitted to the hospital. From there, she contacted us, fortunately having Iris Global travel assistance insurance. That’s when we reached out to our local correspondent. To ensure the proper functioning of our healthcare assistance service, Iris Global has a network of partners and correspondents around the world who help us manage each case on-site. This correspondent, along with Iris Global’s internal medical team, monitored the case during the first few days, when the patient required constant care and treatment.

Although the woman and her friends had planned to return to Spain on 12 June, the seriousness of the situation led to a change of plans. They didn’t want to stay in Mexico any longer, so she and one of her friends decided to return earlier. Iris Global arranged the medical transport for the insured woman and her companion. The trip was made in Business Class, and for the patient’s comfort, a wheelchair and active drainage for her leg were provided.

Our medical team also gave specific recommendations for mobility during the flight. Additionally, she was prescribed heparin to prevent complications.

The recovery

They returned on 11 May, just five days after the incident. Once in Madrid, a medical taxi service was arranged to take her to her hometown, where she could continue treatment and complete her recovery.

Sometimes, the most ordinary situations can hide dangers that completely disrupt a trip. You never know when you’ll need travel assistance insurance to cover your most basic needs. At Iris Global, we’re ready to act anywhere in the world. Our commitment is to care for our insured clients – wherever they are and whatever happens.