Home / Disasters and Accidents / US Woman Stranded in Turkey After Vacation Fall
US Woman Stranded in Turkey After Vacation Fall
11 Apr
Summary
- A woman suffered multiple fractures during a layover in Istanbul.
- Her insurance does not cover overseas medical treatment.
- Family is fundraising over $100,000 for medical flight home.
A planned trip to Italy for Easter celebrations turned into a severe ordeal for Dionetta Hudzinski, a 79-year-old retired nurse from Washington. While on a layover in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 2, 2026, she fell down an escalator, sustaining critical fractures to her hip, femur, and arm. She was initially treated at a private hospital before being moved to a government facility, as her insurance deemed her care not covered abroad.
Her family is now facing immense financial pressure to arrange a medical flight back to the United States, with costs estimated to exceed $100,000. Hudzinski is also awaiting surgery in Turkey, with an estimated cost of around $39,000, while navigating a significant language barrier with medical staff. Two nieces are en route to provide support. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to gather donations for her medical treatment, transportation, and recovery expenses.
