As reported in last week's Advertiser, Stephen O'Neill, of Railway Terrace, suffered a heart attack while holidaying last month.

It's hoped the 41-year-old will now be back home by Saturday.
His carer, Sue Hartland, of Ambleside, Brownsover, said: "It's been a nightmare for us. But he is looking forward to coming home and we just want him back."

The 41-year-old - who suffers from Friedreich Attaxia, an inherited condition which attacks the nervous system - took the holiday last month.

After previous trips to Central America, wheelchair-bound Stephen decided to go to Cuba with Sue and her husband Graeme.

However, just days into the break, Stephen - who had earlier complained of feeling unwell - was found 'screaming for help' in his bed.

Sue - who has cared for him for seven years - took him to hospital close to Holguin, where they were staying.

She said: "There was blood and urine in the wards and graffiti everywhere. If someone had sent your loved one into a hospital like that, you would get them out there and then. It was awful - seeing him linked up to tubes in a hospital you wouldn't put your dog in."

After contacting his parents, the couple then made sure he could recover in an intensive care unit before returning home themselves.

Travel company representatives are in regular contact with Stephen, who is now recuperating.

Meanwhile, his father Pat O'Neill said the family were going through 'hell' waiting for him to return safely.

As reported last week, Mr. O'Neill and his wife Coral claim they face bills totalling thousands of pounds after it was revealed Stephen had no insurance.

Mr. O'Neill and Mrs. Hartland thanked everyone helping the efforts to get Stephen back.