A COUPLE who were left stranded and penniless in Bulgaria when their summer holiday ended in a medical emergency and their insurers refused to payout, are back home in Bradford.

Simon Reilly, who was struck by agonising stomach pains while at the Sunny Beach resort with his wife Amanda, arrived back at their home in Stoneacre Court, West Bowling, to greeted by neighbours who had decorated it with banners and balloons.

Friends and neighbours had rallied round to help pay some of a £5,000 medical bill Mr Reilly, 42, was landed with after his insurance company refused cover for surgery to repair his pancreas which was about to rupture.

Shopfitter Mr Reilly, who is recovering at home before going back to work in a fortnight's time, woke in intensive care after surgeons at a private hospital in Burgas carried out a touch-and-go operation to save his life.

He now has a scar from his belly button to his sternum but has been to see his own GP for a check-up and been referred for a hospital appointment in six weeks' time.

Mrs Reilly, 52, said: "We were worried there was an infection but the GP is pleased with Simon's recovery so far.

"He also said the stomach problem Simon had last year which the insurance company used as an excuse not to pay us, was nothing to do with his pancreas - so we will now be getting legal advice about what to do next."

Solid Insurance had refused to pay because Mr Reilly's medical records showed he had missed a hospital appointment in Bradford last year.

Supporters in the UK raised almost £2,750 towards the medical bill but the couple still owe the hospital in Bulgaria about £2,800.

Mrs Reilly said: "We've been so touched by the help we have been given by friends, family and neighbours who have all been angels. Without them we would never have got back home."

Pauline Hall, a friend of the couple, started off the fundraising once news of the Reillys' plight broke but efforts to get them home soon spread.

One neighbour did a door-to-door collection with a bucket and another gave the holiday spending money he had been saving in a sweet jar, while a friend loaned £500 and another pal gave £1,000 towards the bill. A public online appeal on Go Fund Me also made almost £500.

"Of course we will pay people back but they've said there's no rush which is a relief," Mrs Reilly said.

"We've still got about £2,800 to pay the hospital but we're just relieved to be back home and that Simon is doing well."

A spokesman at Cardiff-based Global Resource, appointed by Solid Insurance to offer 24-hour medical claim assistance, previously said it had rejected the couple's insurance cover after reviewing information available at the time of Mr Reilly's claim, in line with policy terms and conditions and information given and asked for, when the policy was sold.