Norwich couple's holiday nightmare

Pat and Norma Gowen.

SARAH BREALEY
16 October 2009 14:34



A Norwich couple have been stranded in Hawaii after their holiday of a lifetime turned into a terrifying cancer ordeal.

Pat and Norma Gowen, who are stuck 7,000 miles away from their home in Hellesdon, had saved for years for a cruise of a lifetime in the Pacific, a month-long trip visiting Fiji, Tahiti, Australia and other exotic destinations.

But two days into the cruise Mrs Gowen was struck down with stomach pains. The ship's doctor advised her to go to hospital when they docked in Hawaii. A scan revealed she had bowel cancer and she had a life-saving operation the next morning.

Mrs Gowen spent nine days in hospital and was released last Wednesday. Last Friday she was certified as being medically fit to travel and advised to return home as soon as possible to recuperate.

But despite several phone calls to their insurer, Axa Assistance, they were none the wiser about how they might get home.

However, the couple have now received a fax telling them they would be flown home this weekend.

Their friend Jane Scarfe, from Little Melton, near Norwich, said: “They are leaving Hawaii at 4am their time tomorrow .

“They are travelling via Honolulu and Los Angeles, and arrive back at Heathrow at 2.15pm our time on Sunday. They are incredibly relieved, as the temperature and humidity was horrendous.”

The couple are well-known as local activists and Friends of the Earth campaigners, while Mrs Gowen is also a keen artist, whose work is due to be on show at the Assembly House in Norwich at the end of this month.

Mr Gowen, 77, who worked at the University of East Anglia before he retired, said: “The bad news was that they diagnosed colon cancer, which came as a shock. They recommended very quick surgery, to save her life virtually, because there was a blockage by this point.

“The doctor said she could not rejoin the cruise, because they are calling at some places with virtually no medical facilities, but that we should return to England the fastest possible way. He gave her leave to travel on Friday.”

The couple, who have been married for 48 years, have no children. Mrs Gowen, 76, is a retired window-dresser.

She said she was grateful for the medical care she had had, including from the ship's doctor, and help and advice from the Visitor Aloha Association of Hawaii, a voluntary organisation which helps travellers in distress.

She said: “It was a shock when they told me I had cancer but it could have been much worse - I could have had cancer which they couldn't cure. Now we just want to get home.”

An Axa Assistance spokesman said she could not comment on the Gowen's case, but said: “We always keep our customers up-to-date at all times. We would aim to fly them home as soon as possible, but there can be delays for several reasons, such as delays in getting a fit to fly certificate, time differences, and difficulties getting home with the hospital. We are sorry if this customer has had some difficulties.”

Have you had a holiday nightmare? Contact Sarah Brealey on 01603 772485 or sarah.brealey@archant.co.uk.

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