Charlie Smith with his mum Heather on holiday in Turkey before he fell from a balcony

by Thom Morris

A man who broke his back when he fell from a balcony in Turkey has returned to the UK.

Charlie Smith, of Lowfield Street, Dartford, visited the country with his mum Heather and younger brother Kane, seven, on September 27 for an 11-day holiday.

Heather, of Havelock Road, Gravesend, made an appeal last week after Charlie fell from a third floor balcony at the spa resort where they were staying and broke his back in three places.

The 45-year-old said: “He said he was going out for a cigarette and the next thing I knew there was screaming and he was three floors down on the floor.

He was taken to hospital and had an emergency operation but needs another one because he has a compressed spine because he landed on his feet.”

On Monday Charlie, 25, arrived at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury for an operation to remove a bone fragment from his spinal cord.

He has a son Levi, who will be one next month.

Charlie Smith, from Dartford, with baby son Levi

Although the family had insurance with Virgin, there is a clause within the terms and conditions which states it will not pay out for “any claim caused by you climbing, jumping or moving from one balcony to another regardless of the height of the balcony”.

Heather managed to raise about £7,000 to fly Charlie home by selling many of his possessions, including his car, and receiving donations from friends and family.

She stayed behind in Turkey as £5,000 still needs to be paid for medical bills. It is understood she would return to Gravesend in the next few days.

Friends are holding a fundraising football match at Goals, in Green Street Green Road, Dartford, tonight from 8.30pm.

A rave has also been organised at SOS in Tonbridge on November 16 from 9pm to 6am.

• Donations can be made by emailing hevparry@hotmail.co.uk or by visiting Facebook and searching for the Charlie Smith Recovery Fund for more details on events