A British tourist, Carl Ratcliffe, found himself in a harrowing situation in Turkey after police misunderstood his severe asthma attack as intoxication. Carl, who suffers from brittle asthma, a severe and rare form of the condition, was arrested by the authorities while out for a walk. This incident occurred shortly after he had come out of a three-day coma following a previous asthma episode.
Accompanied by his fiancée, Natalia Flynn, Carl had traveled to Bodrum on June 10 for a holiday. Unfortunately, his vacation turned into a nightmare when he experienced another severe asthma attack that led to his arrest. Despite his struggles to communicate his medical emergency, Carl alleged that the police threatened to shoot him if he did not comply with their commands.
Following his arrest, Carl was kept in custody for 14 hours before being released by a judge who found no criminal wrongdoing. However, a passport issue has prevented him from leaving Turkey, adding to his distress. Subsequently, Carl had to be hospitalized again due to another asthma attack, where he was placed in an induced coma without proper medical intervention.
The traumatic experiences have left Carl traumatized and fearful for his life. Despite discharging himself from the hospital due to concerns about his safety, he faces challenges in obtaining a fit-to-fly certificate and feels trapped in a foreign country. As he navigates this ordeal, Carl has initiated a fundraiser to help cover his legal and living expenses while stranded in Turkey.
The situation has garnered attention from Labour Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia, who is set to address Carl’s case in the House of Lords. What began as a joyous occasion of engagement for Carl has turned into a distressing saga, highlighting the unforeseen challenges faced by travelers in unfamiliar territories.
