Bomb couple 'caught out' by travel policy

The honeymoon couple injured in the Maldives bombing last weekend face at least two months in hospital while their acute burns are treated.

Christian and Jenny Donelan, both 32, were flown to Britain last week in an air ambulance and are being treated in the burns unit of South Manchester Hospital.

Family and friends have been horrified by the extent of their injuries. Mr Donelan and his wife are both wrapped in cotton wool to ease their discomfort, but they remain in great pain.

Mr Donelan has 27 per cent first- and second-degree burns; his wife of three weeks is more seriously injured with 40 per cent burns.

On Friday, the couple had their wounds bathed for the first time. They are expected to require skin grafts.

The couple, who honeymooned in the Maldives after marrying in Italy, are critical of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and say the Government refused to contribute towards the £106,000 cost of their air ambulance.

Their families said in a joint statement: "When British citizens are seriously injured in a terrorist attack in a benign country, we believe the Government has a duty to support their evacuation to the UK where they can receive the medical attention they need. We will be approaching our MP in order for this complete disregard for the well-being of British citizens to be questioned in the House of Commons."

The couple's holiday insurance also failed to cover the cost of the air ambulance. "We would like to draw everyone's attention to the importance of reading the small print in travel insurance policies – don't be caught out like Christian and Jenny," the statement said.

The families did, however, issue a list of "thank-yous" to the Maldives people, the ADK Hospital in Male where they were first treated and Mr Donelan's employer, Boartes.

Mr Donelan, from Rotherham, and his wife, from Manchester, both work in the Gulf state of Qatar as sports events organisers.

Tim Bulleyment, a friend of the couple, said: "Christian is in a lot of pain – and Jenny is worse. They now face a long recovery period."

The couple were among 12 tourists injured when a nail bomb exploded in Male, the capital of the Maldives. Islamist terrorists are suspected of carrying out the attack.

Source: Telegraph