A popular dad who collapsed during a walk on Christmas Day is stuck in the Algarve as doctors diagnosed a horrific brain tumour. Christopher Taylor, flew to Portugal to meet up with his brother George and sister-in-law when he collapsed during a festive stroll, but insisted he was fine. When the 62-year-old failed to get up the next morning, George checked on him and called an ambulance as he feared he had suffered a stroke. However, he was later diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.
Despite having travel insurance, Christopher has been waiting a week to be flown home and does still not know when he will be repatriated back. George said: "He was pretty much paralysed and had very slurred speech. “He was taken to Faro general hospital where a scan was performed which indicated a large mass on his left frontal lobe. A more detailed investigation was recommended but it could not be performed by the hospital as they didn't have the facilities.
“He was transferred to Hospital Lusiadas Albufeira, a private hospital, on December 27 [where] an MRI scan showed a large tumour which was aggressive and had led to a secondary tumour. The diagnosis from the doctor given on December 28 was it was inoperable.
"We were told he needs a lumbar puncture but when he has the procedure he can't be moved for 14 days so we have requested he is repatriated and moved to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to have it done. “Chris is currently conscious and comfortable in hospital. That's all they can do while this aggressive tumour is eating away inside his head. He is feeling frustrated as he's not in full control of his limbs and movements and has a headache," he told DevonLive.
