Holiday tumour woman arrives home

Sylvia Davies had part of her brain tumour removed in Vancouver

A Pembrokeshire woman stranded in Canada when her insurers refused to pay her medical bills has arrived back in Wales.

Sylvia Davies, 60, reached Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, at about 2100 GMT after a 17-hour journey.

Mrs Davies, on holiday with husband John, had thousands of pounds worth of medical treatment after collapsing with a brain tumour on holiday in Vancouver.

Insurer Inter Group has said Mrs Davies had an existing medical condition.

Lost income

Friends have raised nearly £8,000 to bring her and Mr Davies home, although the final bill will be much higher.

The couple had been stuck in Canada for more than six weeks after Mrs Davies fell ill.

Mr Davies said on Friday evening: "We are very tired obviously from travelling all the way from Vancouver, but it's so great to come home, see the grandchildren and see all the friends here - it's marvellous."

Their medical bills have run into tens of thousands of pounds, and they also lost income when their antiques store had to remain closed while Mr Davies stayed with his wife.

The couple claimed they had told holiday company Canadian Affair that Mrs Davies may have suffered a mild stroke but had been pronounced fit to travel by two doctors.

They also claimed the company, which had sold them the insurance, gave them the go-ahead to proceed with the holiday.

Sylvia and John Davies, with their son Gwyn

But that has been disputed by Canadian Affair, which denied having received a call from Mr Davies informing them of a change in his wife's medical condition.

The insurance company also offered to speak again to the couple.

While the dispute continued, Mrs Davies underwent treatment in Vancouver and friends and supporters back home have been fund-raising and reopened their store.

Events have included a fun day in Haverfordwest organised by 14th Signal Regiment at RAF Brawdy, which raised more than £1,000.

One friend, Alun Jones, said: "We can't praise the people of Haverfordwest enough."

The couple arrived at Heathrow Airport, London, on Friday afternoon, accompanied by a nurse.

We are not a very prosperous area down here but we are very caring Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb

Part of Mrs Davies' tumour was removed in Vancouver, but she may need further treatment to reduce it further.

Before the couple left Canada. Mr Davies said it was a "dream come true" to come home before Christmas.

He added: "It's been a wonderful effort by very good friends of ours. I've heard of all the fund-raising events and we thank everyone in Pembrokeshire from the bottom of our hearts.

"I know there are other people involved as well. It's such a humbling experience to know that you've got such good friends and even people who don't know us are coming forward with offers of help."

But Mr Davies said it looked as if his wife would need a full-time carer.

Local MP Stephen Crabb said: "This is excellent news for the couple and all their friends and family in Pembrokeshire. This is a great Christmas present for them.

"The community in Pembrokeshire are tremendous. We are not a very prosperous area down here but we are very caring.

"Friends and people that don't even know the family rallied round and raised the money to enable Mr and Mrs Davies to come home."