A WOMAN from Dorset went through a red tape nightmare after being involved in a serious road accident while on holiday in South Africa.

Edna Dawes, 76, from Meadow Close in Sopley, and her daughter Kathryn, 46, from Southbourne, were a day into their holiday, travelling by minibus to a game park outside Cape Town when the bus "shot off the road" into the side of a mountain.

Despite being thrown out of the rear window, Edna was not seriously hurt but her daughter suffered severe head and spinal injuries and was unconscious in intensive care for three days.

Problems with hospital admin and their insurance began when they were transferred to a hospital in Cape Town.

They say staff instantly wanted to know who was paying for their treatment and Edna was asked for insurance details while still on a drip, while paramedics sent to transport Kathryn for an MRI scan wanted payment up front.

Mrs Dawes, now back home and receiving treatment for her back injury, told the Daily Echo: "Of course I didn't have that kind of cash on me. All I had was debit and credit cards. I couldn't believe it when the ambulance man produced a chip and pin machine to take my payment of £220 there and then.

"When I was being discharged, I was told I had to pay for my treatment before leaving as they couldn't get a response from the insurance company.

"They insisted that I pay then but changed their mind because they still had my daughter. I said So if I don't pay will I never get her back?' "The medical staff at the hospital were outstanding. It was immaculate and our treatment was first rate. But my advice to people going abroad is to have everything ready to avoid stressful admin disputes.

"Accidents happen and it is shock and stress enough to have a loved one injured without having to worry about insurance and documents.

"This hasn't put us off travelling though. We've got trips to Vienna and Switzerland planned and are returning to South Africa next year.