U.K. Woman Stranded in Saudi Arabia Needs Urgent Funds for Medical Evacuation
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A British fitness instructor is in critical condition in Saudi Arabia and requires £110,000 (approximately $139,000 USD) for a medical evacuation to the U.K., where she has been approved for a life-saving lung transplant. Laura Storr, 35, moved to Saudi Arabia from Essex in 2020, but her health has rapidly deteriorated, making commercial travel impossible.
Storr suffers from pulmonary arterial hypertension, a progressive lung condition that increases blood pressure in the arteries. While her work-based medical insurance covers her current care in Saudi Arabia, it does not extend to the cost of a specialized medical flight home.
“Every day feels critical,” said Emily Storr, Laura’s sister, who launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the necessary funds. “They’ve now come to the conclusion that it’s this rare form [of her diagnosis] so it attacks the lungs more, which attacks your heart more aggressively and they don’t have medication for this yet. She’s now in a very severe, critical state.”
The escalating costs are due, in part, to the current geopolitical climate in the Middle East. The need for a dedicated medical team and specialized planning adds to the financial burden. Emily Storr also expressed concern for her parents, who have been providing around-the-clock care for Laura in Saudi Arabia and whose safety is now at risk due to regional instability.
Laura is now approved for a lung transplant within the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS). However, without the funds for immediate medical repatriation, her condition is worsening. She is currently experiencing severe respiratory distress, coughing up blood, and requires urgent intensive care upon arrival in the U.K.
Those wishing to contribute to Laura Storr’s medical evacuation fund can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-laura-home-lifesaving-medical-repatriation
This story comes amid heightened tensions in the region, including threats from Iran targeting energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, following Israeli strikes.
