A Bradford father-of-two was in intensive care in an American hospital after he was caught up in Hurricane Wilma.

Chemical factory worker Stephen Moss, 44, fell seriously ill following the disaster in Cancun, Mexico.

Mr Moss was on holiday with his wife Linda, 43, her sister Susan Bentley, 42, and her husband Andrew, 46, and his six-year-old grandson Aiden, when they were caught up in the hurricane.

They were evacuated from their hotel to a cinema complex, but had to be moved to an underground car park when the roof collapsed.

Mrs Bentley, of Institute Road, Eccleshill, said they spent days without food, electricity and toilet or washing facilities, with up to 800 people, in chaotic conditions.

She said: "We were like refugees, crammed together like sardines. The place was like a sewer. We didn't eat anything because of the risk to our health."

Mrs Bentley said her brother-in-law became ill while in the car park three days after the hurricane struck.

"He was complaining of aches and was vomiting and sleeping a lot. We were very concerned," she said.

She claimed the family told their Thomas Cook travel agent rep that diabetic Mr Moss was poorly but received no help. Later the same day they were taken back to their hotel, but during the night Mr Moss's condition deteriorated.

A guest, who was a doctor, examined him and said he needed to be admitted to hospital, with his sugar levels "sky high." He was carried on a sunbed to a minibus and taken to hospital 30 minutes away. Mr Moss, who has two grown-up sons, was found to be dehydrated and put on drips.

The following day the Bentleys and Aiden made the eight-hour coach ride to the airport for flights home, leaving Mrs Moss at the hospital with her husband, having been told he would be discharged and alright to fly with them.

Mr Bentley said: "I then got a call saying Linda had left a message that Stephen wasn't well enough to fly that day and they had been put up in the hotel."

The Bentleys finally got back to Bradford on Thursday, a week after their ordeal began.

Mrs Bentley added: "Linda rang and said there were no more flights out but the British Embassy had flown them by private jet to Dallas. But during the flight Stephen's condition worsened and when they landed a medical team was waiting for him and he was taken to hospital. He went into intensive care because they needed a 24-hour watch on him."

Stephen's sister, Pamela Halligan, 46, of Elmfield Drive, Odsal, said: "My sister-in-law rang from Dallas yesterday and he seems to be doing a bit better now. He is out of intensive care and has had an operation on an abscess in his mouth. I'd still like to be there with him but he seems to be going the right way."

Thomas Cook said the safety and well-being of customers and staff was of the highest importance. A spokesman said: "We worked closely with the Federation of Tour Operators and local emergency services to make sure they were looked after in the best way possible.

"Our reps in resort and full support team co-ordinating efforts in the UK were all focused on customers' welfare and safety."