A BRAVE boy from Barrow who was left stranded in a Spanish hospital after breaking his leg has finally returned to his family home.

Alfie Barton broke his femur in August while playing on a slide in Benidorm. He was staying at the resort with mum and dad Rachel and Karl, and siblings Tegan and Jacob.


Alfie was taken to hospital in Alicante, 40 minutes away from where the family was staying, and his parents were told he would need to stay in Spain for up to two months.

The Bartons said the experience was a "living hell", with Alfie refusing to eat and his pain not being properly managed.

READ MORE: Barrow family stranded in Spanish resort

The family got in touch with the Evening Mail, who contacted the travel company, the insurance underwriters and the Foreign Office to push for the four-year-old to be flown home. Hours later they were informed Alfie would be medevaced to Furness General Hospital.

Finally, after an operation and weeks of traction treatment, Alfie has been discharged from hospital and reunited with his relieved family.

Speaking from their home in Oxford Street, Mrs Barton said doctors had warned her that Alfie's road to recovery would be "long and slow".

"He was due to start primary school in September, and now won't be able to start until possibly after Christmas," the 38-year-old said.

"They've told us it will be a long and slow road to recovery for him. He's set to have his cast taken off in three weeks but we won't know what will happen after that until he's had an X-ray."

Delighted to be back with his own toys, including his prized collection of Mash'ems, Alfie has to be carried around the house to get to the toilet and to bed, and manages to communicate with his mum from other parts of the house using a walkie talkie toy.

A wheelchair loaned from the Barrow and District Disability Association means he is also able to get outside.

Both he and his mum were keen to thank a number of medical professionals at Furness General Hospital, including children's ward staff Kirsty, Sarah, Stacey and Steph, orthopaedic consultant Mr Kamal and Lorraine.

When asked if he would also thank his mum for being by his side almost 24/7 since his accident, Alfie said: "Yeah - thank you, mum."