A British teenager's dream holiday to Dubai has turned into a medical nightmare that could leave her stranded in the United Arab Emirates with her newborn baby.
Bella Culley, 19 and 32 weeks pregnant, was rushed to hospital with severe pregnancy complications just days into her holiday, sparking a desperate international rescue mission by her terrified family.
Medical Crisis in Foreign Land
The Essex teenager, who travelled to Dubai with her partner George Grier, 20, began experiencing alarming symptoms including blurred vision and severe swelling. Medical professionals at the Saudi German Hospital diagnosed her with pre-eclampsia and dangerously high blood pressure, conditions that pose serious risks to both mother and baby.
"We're absolutely terrified," her mother Stacey, 39, told Birmingham Live from the family home in Corringham. "We just want to get her home where she can have the baby safely surrounded by family."
Insurance Nightmare Unfolds
The family's situation highlights the hidden dangers of travelling while pregnant. Despite having travel insurance, the policy excluded pregnancy-related claims beyond 28 weeks gestation. With hospital bills already mounting to £3,000 and predicted to reach £15,000, the family faces financial ruin.
Bella's father Lee, 41, has made the desperate dash to Dubai to be by his daughter's side, while the family scrambles to raise £10,000 through GoFundMe to cover mounting medical and repatriation costs.
The Race Against Time
Medical professionals face a critical dilemma. Bella requires immediate specialist care, but airlines typically refuse to carry passengers beyond 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. Even if stabilised, she may be unable to fly home before giving birth.
"If she has the baby in Dubai, the process to bring a newborn home involves DNA testing and extensive paperwork that could take months," Stacey explained, her voice thick with emotion.
A Warning to Other Travellers
The Foreign Office has been contacted for assistance, but the case serves as a stark warning to other expectant mothers considering overseas travel. Pregnancy complications can emerge suddenly, turning holiday dreams into logistical and financial nightmares.
As Bella lies in a hospital bed thousands of miles from home, her family continues their desperate fight to reunite in Essex before the baby arrives.
