A FAMILY paid more than £30,000 to fly their mother back to Salisbury, after she fractured her hip falling down a seven metre hole on a Greek island.

Salisbury photographer Helga Soket had gone to Rhodes for a family holiday, when taking pictures of her sons caused her to step back too far and tumble down into the ditch.

And following the fall, the 37-year-old had to wait three hours until she could be rescued, via ladder, by emergency services.

The incident took place on Wednesday, September 25, when Helga, husband Peter, and children Felix and Max, were visiting an acropolis in Lindos.

Salisbury Journal:

"It didn't look like it was a hole, in my peripheral vision it was just bushes so I did not think it was unsafe, there was no sign or barrier or anything," Helga said.

"I took two steps backwards and in the next millisecond I felt myself fall through the trees and hit the rocks."

As a result of the crash, Helga has fractured her hip and leg, as well as suffering bruising and several cuts.

She added: "All I could think was, am I going to survive? It was scary, and they [paramedics] didn't care I was in pain.

"The doctors out there are heroes, but they just do not have enough staff or resources - unless you are dying you are a not a priority. I just wanted to come home."

Once taken to a Greek hospital, the Soket family got in touch with their insurance company, which said Helga would only be able to return to Salisbury for surgery if her medical report confirmed she was safe to fly, claimed the family.

Salisbury Journal:

But in desperation to get Helga home sooner, Peter organised an air ambulance to take her home, costing £33,000.

IAS Medical flew Helga to Southampton on Saturday (September 28) and she was taken to Salisbury District Hospital for surgery on Sunday.

Following the major treatment, Helga said: "This was such a dangerous bone to fracture, but I am still so lucky it wasn't my spine or neck, I could be paralysed or dead.

"I just believe that by me falling in I saved my children, because we never would have thought this place was so unsafe and they may have just accidentally run in, and they wouldn't have survived."

According to the family the insurance company wanted to send Helga to a private hospital in Rhodes, and they claimed the service was "unhelpful" in the process of returning her home.

They are now trying to claim back the money spent on private travel.

Helga added: "Our insurance company just wanted the cheapest option, they didn't really care. It caused us so much stress.

"I just want the money back that we put in, because I want to be able to donate some of it to the NHS and the hospital in Rhodes."

When Helga has fully recovered, she will be organising a walk fundraiser to raise money for the Chilmark ward at Salisbury District Hospital, which is where she stayed following surgery.

She added: "I really appreciate the hard work of the nurses, doctors and physiotherapists on my ward, they were all amazing and I cannot thank them enough.

"I've never felt so loved, so many people are here trying to help, and I am getting better slowly."