A FAMILY from Torfaen has launched a fundraising appeal to fly an injured woman home to be treated after she was involved in quad bike crash in Greece.

Melissa Pegg fractured her pelvis in an accident in Zante this week while on holiday with her boyfriend Joe Silk, from Cwmbran.

The pair were riding the quad bike when it crashed, leaving Miss Pegg, 21, stranded in a hospital bed and too hurt to be allowed to fly home on a standard flight.

However, Mr Silk’s family state that insurance taken out by the pair didn’t cover travel costs, leaving the 20-year-old, of Tintern Close, Cwmbran, with the heart-breaking decision to fly home without his girlfriend.

He was deemed fit to fly by a doctor and had an operation on his broken arm at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny yesterday.

Family and friends are now trying to raise money to fly Miss Pegg, from Plymouth, home on a private plane that can accommodate her on a stretcher and have set up a JustGiving page with a target of £5,000.

A description published on the JustGiving page – which has already raised £1495 – adds that the huge cost of a “specially adapted plane” would not be covered by insurance.

The statement, from Mr Silk’s brother Gareth, of St Dials, reads: “We’re doing everything in our power to get Melissa home so she can get the treatment and support she needs here in the UK”.

Mr Silk’s sister, Phillippa Bradley, 35, of Blaenavon, added the holiday was meant to be the “start of a new chapter in their lives together” and received a call on Monday, May 8 from Joe in a “complete state”.

“It was a very hard and heart-breaking decision for Joe to make, to leave Melissa to get the treatment he needs (but) he had no choice,” she said.

“Melissa’s mother and grandmother arrived in Zante yesterday and are working tirelessly to bring her home”.

She added: “Up until Monday they had an amazing time in Zante and saw and experienced some amazing things.

“Joe and Melissa would say to anyone thinking of renting a quad, check every last word of your holiday insurance”.

To support the fund, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gareth-silk