Blackburn mum fighting for life in Poland after collapsing at airport

Kayleigh Newton, 30, from Blackburn, travelled to Krakow, on March 14 with her husband Liam after receiving the holiday as a Christmas present from her mother, Anna Haggart.

After enjoying a four-day break together, the pair went to John Paul II Krakow-Balice Airport to travel home on Friday when Kayleigh suddenly collapsed.

While being cared for by paramedics, she woke up but was struggling to hear and her vision had gone in one eye.

She was taken to a Krakow hospital and admitted to intensive care where she was diagnosed with having meningitis, sepsis, MRSA and pneumonia.

Liam and Kayleigh Newton

She was put on a ventilator, with an attempt on Tuesday to take her off being unsuccessful.

Doctors believe it is likely when Kayleigh wakes, she will have brain damage.

Kayleigh’s aunt, Gill Garvin, said: “The doctors over there have been brilliant but we are really struggling to know what is going on because of the language barriers.

“They were going to operate in the brain but they are quite wary because that's where the infection is.

“We have been contacting people to get some help because we just don’t know what to do.

The couple had been on a mini-break in Krakow. Photo: Pixabay

“They are really struggling with communicating so we want her back so we know exactly what is going on.”

Her parents, Anna and Shaun Haggart, who run the Shaun Haggart Foundation in memory of their son, who died aged 24 in 2010, flew over as soon as they could and have been talking with British Embassy staff about how to get her back to the UK for treatment.

The family says Kayleigh is insured but that the documents are on her phone, and they are unable to access them.

The embassy requires the insurance documents to be printed for them to be accepted however, due to them spending their time in the hospital, they are finding it difficult.

Cllr Maureen Bateson is trying to help the family

The family has contacted Ewood councillor Maureen Bateson, who has been speaking with Blackburn MP Kate Hollern to try and work out how the family can bring her home.

Cllr Bateson said: “I know the family really well. They have a charity and they help so many other people and now they desperately need our help.

“We are trying to get her support. It’s a tragic situation. We need to get her home and get her well. We will do whatever we can.

“This is a fabulous family who do so much for others. They do not deserve this.”

A spokesman for the MP said: “The family has made contact through their local councillor Maureen Bateson.

“The issue has been raised with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office emergency helpdesk.”

A GoFundMe online appeal has been set up to help get Kayleigh home, with more than £6,000 being raised in two days.