A 23-year-old British woman from Abergele, Wales, is facing a long road to recovery after suffering a devastating fall while working as a camp leader in the United States.
Charlotte Hollins Anderton endured a traumatic accident on July 4, plummeting 30 feet and sustaining multiple serious injuries. According to her family, Charlotte lay critically injured for eight hours before help arrived. She was later found to have suffered a fractured spine, shattered both feet, and experienced internal bleeding, requiring intensive medical care and several surgeries, The Mirror reports.
Charlotte has been hospitalized ever since, and her family has now launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of bringing her back to the UK for further treatment.
“Our beautiful Charlotte was tragically involved in a life-changing accident whilst working as a camp leader this summer,” the family wrote on the fundraising page. “She has been in hospital since the fall, undergoing surgeries to treat spinal and foot fractures, internal injuries, and more. She has also been admitted to the intensive care unit.”
Beyond the physical trauma, Charlotte is also battling emotional distress in the wake of the accident. Her loved ones say they are heartbroken to be so far from her during such a critical time.
"She's also dealing with intense emotional trauma from the fall and it breaks our hearts that we can't be there to help,” the family shared. “But on top of all of the unimaginable pain and suffering, we've been dealt another blow: her insurance won’t cover the cost of repatriating her from the U.S. to the UK.”
They say Charlotte urgently needs to return home to access specialist care through the NHS and continue her recovery surrounded by family. The cost of her medical repatriation is estimated at £45,000 ($60,000).
As of now, the fundraiser has raised nearly £13,000 ($17,000). The family is appealing to the public for help, whether through donations or by sharing the campaign.
“We know this is a tough time financially for many, but if you're unable to donate, please help us by spreading the word,” they said. “We never imagined we'd be in this position, asking for help when all we want is to have her safely home.”
The family has vowed to keep supporters updated and expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they’ve received so far. “Thank you so much. It means more to us than you could imagine,” they added.