Family appeals for help to fund the medical repatriation of Helen and Nell Barratt from Montenegro
The family of Helen Barratt and her 19-year-old daughter Nell, who are currently hospitalised in Budva, Montenegro, have launched an urgent fundraising drive to pay for their return to the United Kingdom. According to relatives, the pair were struck by a car within hours of arriving on holiday on April 13.
The injuries have left both women unable to travel on a commercial flight and in need of specialist extraction.
Faced with mounting medical bills and the obstacle that their travel insurance had lapsed, relatives have created a GoFundMe campaign with a target of £40,000 to secure specialist medical transport.
The organisers say the quoted cost covers medically assisted repatriation and associated clinical escorts, equipment and logistics. As of the latest family updates, nearly £10,000 has been donated, but the gap remains large.
What happened in Budva
Family accounts say the collision occurred just hours after Helen and Nell arrived in the coastal town of Budva.
While walking on a footpath, they were allegedly struck when a vehicle mounted the kerb. Witnesses and local police reportedly took statements at the scene. The incident has been described by relatives as sudden and severe, leaving both women unconscious or incapacitated before they were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Medical and financial challenges
Injuries and hospital care
Relatives report that Nell has multiple fractures, including damage to her spine, pelvis and collarbone, and a significant open wound on her back that has required ongoing dressing and monitoring. She remains largely immobile and has yet to receive full assessment for the extent of spinal injury. Helen is being treated for head and facial trauma, including multiple lacerations that required stitches, a fractured pubic bone and a split lip with signs of infection. Family members say both are still awaiting further scans and specialist assessments.
Insurance and repatriation logistics
Compounding the situation, the family discovered that their travel cover had expired and that while their Global Health Insurance allowed for emergency care, it does not cover medical repatriation—the process of returning a patient to their home country under medical supervision. The family has been given a repatriation quote of £40,000, which reflects the need for an air ambulance or specially equipped commercial jet with clinical staff. Relatives say they have sought consular advice, engaged a local lawyer and are coordinating with hospital teams, but the cost remains prohibitive.
Fundraising and ongoing support
The fundraising page, set up by a family friend, calls for donations and wide sharing to help close the shortfall. Posts from Nell’s sister, Ella, describe the emotional strain of watching her mother and sister in a foreign hospital while attempting to secure basic care and clear answers from clinicians. The appeal stresses that both women are currently unable to be moved safely without professional medical repatriation and asks supporters to contribute toward the £40,000 target.
Official response and next steps
The family has notified UK authorities and relatives say the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has offered support and is in contact with local officials. Consular engagement aims to ensure access to information and to help coordinate any necessary paperwork, but it does not remove the financial requirement for specialised transport. Meanwhile, friends and relatives are managing communications, liaising with the hospital and updating donors as scans and assessments progress.
The family asks for privacy and practical help as they navigate complex medical and legal arrangements abroad. Those who wish to assist are being asked to donate to the established GoFundMe campaign and to share the appeal to help reach the target more quickly. The situation remains fluid and family updates are being posted on social channels to keep supporters informed about clinical developments and repatriation planning.
