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Paralysed diver's insurance blow Paralysed diver's insurance blow
(10 minutes later)
A woman paralysed on a diving trip faces paying thousands for medical care in Egypt because her 40m dive was not covered by her standard insurance.A woman paralysed on a diving trip faces paying thousands for medical care in Egypt because her 40m dive was not covered by her standard insurance.
Angie Gower, 42, an experienced diver from Neath, south Wales, suffered spinal injuries and the bends during the dive off Hurghada, on the Red Sea.Angie Gower, 42, an experienced diver from Neath, south Wales, suffered spinal injuries and the bends during the dive off Hurghada, on the Red Sea.
The Post Office say they are following the terms of their insurance policy by refusing to pay for treatment.The Post Office say they are following the terms of their insurance policy by refusing to pay for treatment.
A spokesman said her policy only covered her for dives down to 30m.A spokesman said her policy only covered her for dives down to 30m.
Mother-of-three Ms Gower, a member of the Neath Marlins Diving Club, flew out for the two-week trip with her partner, Mark Phillips, 33.Mother-of-three Ms Gower, a member of the Neath Marlins Diving Club, flew out for the two-week trip with her partner, Mark Phillips, 33.
He remains at her hospital bedside in nearby El Gouna, where her medical bills are mounting.He remains at her hospital bedside in nearby El Gouna, where her medical bills are mounting.
According to newspaper reports, Ms Gower is thought to have suffered the bends after re-surfacing following an apparantly normal dive.According to newspaper reports, Ms Gower is thought to have suffered the bends after re-surfacing following an apparantly normal dive.
Mr Phillips' father Maurice, 68, said: "The health and accommodation bills are already running into their thousands. We are doing our best to help but we don't know where to turn."Mr Phillips' father Maurice, 68, said: "The health and accommodation bills are already running into their thousands. We are doing our best to help but we don't know where to turn."
'Hazardous activities''Hazardous activities'
Ms Gower, a psychiatric nurse, has three children, aged, 17, six and five, who are being cared for by relatives at home in Neath.Ms Gower, a psychiatric nurse, has three children, aged, 17, six and five, who are being cared for by relatives at home in Neath.
Mr Phillips added: "This is such a terrible thing to happen to her. My son has not left her bedside."Mr Phillips added: "This is such a terrible thing to happen to her. My son has not left her bedside."
A Post Office spokesman said: "We believe the customer took out a standard travel insurance policy which stipulates in the hazardous activities section that no cover applies for diving below a depth of 30 metres."A Post Office spokesman said: "We believe the customer took out a standard travel insurance policy which stipulates in the hazardous activities section that no cover applies for diving below a depth of 30 metres."
Ms Gower's Welsh Assembly Member Gwenda Thomas said: "I sympathise with her situation and am trying to get her flown home as a matter of urgency."Ms Gower's Welsh Assembly Member Gwenda Thomas said: "I sympathise with her situation and am trying to get her flown home as a matter of urgency."
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the case and are in regular contact with the next of kin - her husband and his family in the UK.A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the case and are in regular contact with the next of kin - her husband and his family in the UK.
"Even this morning we were in contact with the family. The Honorary Consul in Cairo visited them on February 15 and we will continue to provide consular assistance."Even this morning we were in contact with the family. The Honorary Consul in Cairo visited them on February 15 and we will continue to provide consular assistance.
"Now it is a question of waiting for her to be well enough to fly.""Now it is a question of waiting for her to be well enough to fly."
Ms Gower is not expected to be permanently paralysed as a result of her accident, and is having treatment in the hospital's hyperbaric unit.