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

by Thom Morris

A mum is desperately appealing for cash to help her injured son after he fell from a balcony while on holiday.

Heather Smith, of Havelock Road, Gravesend, says her 25-year-old son Charlie, from Dartford, was holidaying with her in Turkey when he fell from a third-floor balcony on Friday night.

The dad-of-two is now in a Turkish hospital with a broken back after emergency surgery.

The family's insurance does not cover balcony falls and they need around £15,000 to fly him home - or he might not walk again.

Heather has already raised £7,000 by selling Charlie's car, pawning jewellery and borrowing from family members.

Charlie Smith, from Dartford, with baby son Levi

The 45-year-old said: "I don't really know what happened. 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. The doctors tried to tell us what he needs through a translator and from what we could understand he has a compressed spine because he landed on his feet."

Charlie, of Lowfield Street, has a baby son called Levi at home who will be one next month.

Heather Smith at home in Gravesend with a photo of sons Charlie and Kane

Heather added: "The second operation needs a special machine that's only available in the UK. The flight has to be with Turkish Airways as that's the only airline they'll use and that will cost between £4,000 and £7,000.

"He'd had a couple of drinks at dinner but he wasn't drunk. He only has one kidney so doesn't drink very much."

Heather says she needs about £15,000 to get him home - covering a third of the medical bill on top of the cost of flight.

The family - including Heather's other seven-year-old son Kane - were staying at the Green Nature Resort and Spa in Marmaris.

The insurance was taken out with Virgin, which has a clause within the terms and conditions stating 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".

Virgin is yet to respond to requests for comment.

A touching message with Charlie Smith's baby son Levi

If you can help the Smith family, phone the newsroom on 01474 564327.