Friends raise £20,000 for couple who became stranded in Dominican Republic with unpaid medical bills after newborn baby died

The GoFundMe page set up for Chloe Sullivan and Michael Parrott
GoFundMe
Patrick Grafton-Green3 November 2018

A couple whose newborn baby died while they were on holiday in the Dominican Republic, leaving them stranded with unpaid medical bills, have flown home after friends raised £20,000.

Chloe Sullivan, from Kent, was forced to rush to hospital last month while in the Caribbean country amid concerns about her unborn baby.

She and her fiancée Michael Parrott, who were with their four-year-old daughter Esme, paid a deposit and told staff at the IMG Medical Centre that the rest would have to be covered by their insurance.

According to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds, doctors proceeded to perform an emergency C-section, despite the hospital reportedly being aware that the mother's insurance would not cover the full treatment.

Baby Arlo was born but died the following day after suffering from respiratory problems.

The couple were desperate to get home with Arlo’s body but the hospital took Miss Sullivan’s passport and insisted the couple pay $20,000 (£16,000) in medical bills despite initially quoting $11,000 (£8,400) for treatment, the page said.

Staff reportedly even threatened to contact Interpol.

The couple's friend Harry Cottam wrote on the page: “Their hearts are broken and they just want to get home, however the hospital refused to let them leave until they paid the medical fee which had now increased to over $20,000.

“They physically do not have that kind of money nor can they access that easily.

“Chloe and Michael asked if they would allow them to pay in instalments and the hospital refused, keeping them in a room surrounded by security and police.

“Chloe’s four year old daughter was with them the whole time, I can’t imagine how scared she must have felt.”

Miss Sullivan desperately reminded the hospital that the couple had told staff before any treatment that they could not pay, but the hospital responded with “we saved your life, you should be grateful”, the page said.

A British embassy representative reportedly advised them to pay the bill and offered no other solution.

The page added. “They are in an impossible position. Their hearts are breaking and they cannot grieve for their baby boy. If anyone can help in any way at all they will be eternally grateful.

“They are so sorry to ask this of our friends and family.”

Within days, friends had banded together to raise the money for the couple, with the total now standing at £20,000.

A later update on the page said the target had been reached and the family had been able to fly home.

“Thank you so much to everyone who donated, the generosity of every single person has been amazing and I’m sure Michael and Chloe will never forget it,” it said.