Ensuring you are fully covered is never too extreme
With the chill of Autumn in the air and dark evenings setting in at an early hour, many people will be looking forward to their summer holiday next year – or even planning an escape to the sun before the end of this one.
For the majority of us, the most strenuous activity we are likely to do while abroad is basking on a beach soaking up the rays or sipping an exotic cocktail by a poolside bar.
However – for others – risking life and limb while parasailing, white water rafting or bunjee jumping is their idea of what makes a real holiday.
Extreme sports are increasingly popular but many are excluded from standard travel insurance policies.
For example, even water-skiing, which many people might well try on the spur of the moment while on an otherwise conventional beach holiday, would be excluded by many policies.
So if you plan to do anything even remotely dangerous, it is vital to check your policy carefully before you go to make sure you are covered.
The alternative to having adequate insurance could be very expensive indeed – just getting an air ambulance home could put you in debt to the tune of 50,000.
According to research from price comparison website moneysupermarket.com almost half of UK holidaymakers have signed up impulsively for an extreme sporting activity whilst abroad.
But if, for instance, you are going away to skydive specifically, you will need to look for a tailored insurance product.
There are not many providers that specialise in sports that involve being unanchored in the air. But the Airports Insurance Bureau, which is available through the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association is one of them.
Extreme travel insurance policies involve a steeper premium – but it is absolutely essential to have cover.
Paul McMahon (28) from Co Tyrone is one person who knows better than most about the necessity of having adequate travel insurance while undertaking an extreme sport.
He suffered an horrific accident after plummeting to earth when a skydive in America went wrong earlier this year.
Paul, a physiotherapist, sustained multiple injuries after hitting the ground from over 100 feet during a 13,000 feet jump in California.
He smashed both legs – breaking his two femurs – crushed his pelvis and lost six pints of blood in the accident which happened in July.
He was rushed to hospital near San Diego after the disaster where he lay unconscious for three days on a life support machine.
After spending 10 days in hospital he was flown back by air ambulance to Northern Ireland to continue his recovery which has been slow.
Now at home in Castlederg, Paul faces a long period of recuperation with daily visits from medical staff and regular trips to the hospital to reveal how his bones are mending.
Recalling the accident, Paul says he remembers towards the end of the skydive the parachute twisted and turned.
“I was descending towards the ground – there were moving columns of air – thermals – coming in off the desert that day so it was quite warm. As I headed towards the drop zone, the wind was too strong and it started to throw me towards trees and buildings.
“I suddenly turned left and as I did the wind took me round.”
As he made an adjustment, the parachute spun out of control – the canopy hit the ground first and then Paul crashed full force into it.
“Once I hit the ground people were running around me. They were telling me I had an accident, but not to worry as an ambulance was on its way.
“My memories are a bit hazy after that – but I knew I was quite badly injured because my legs were in a lot of pain.”
Paul had paid 3,000 for a specialist six-week long skydiving holiday in California which covered his flights to and from San Diego and accommodation at an extreme sports centre near the city. However, the disaster struck just a week into the trip.
He was an already experienced skydiver and had been looking forward to the jump in America.
“I was heading towards my 100th jump, that was my 97th,” he says.
Paul had taken out single trip insurance to cover his holiday with specialist insurance broker Harrison Beaumont – who cover a whole range of extreme sports and had paid 250 for the policy.
It was underwritten by Axiom Underwriting, a trading name of Ipswich based Harrison Beaumont Insurance Services for and on behalf of certain underwriters.
The policy covered personal accident costs up to 25,000 with no excess, and medical and other expenses up to 5m.
This took account of Paul’s medical treatment in America – his stay in hospital from July 26 to August 5 cost around 30,000 while the air ambulance back to Northern Ireland was a further 35,000.
Robin Williams, managing director of Harrison Beaumont who offer a range of policies that include rehabilitation costs and loss of earnings as well as more conventional cover, says the company has seen an increase in demand for insurance for “exotic” sports.
“Demand is certainly on the up for the newer, more hazardous sports such as kite surfing and bungee jumping.
“We have more people taking out polices which cover sports that may not have been even considered several years ago.
“There are two key drivers – there are more people doing these types of activities and also a greater range of extreme sports available than before.”
Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says for people doing extreme sports, it’s best to by-pass standard travel insurers and use a specialist.
“You need specialist advice because not all policies will cater for extreme sports. The majority of people who travel every year don’t do skydiving or white water rafting. It is not something that the average policy is designed to cater for – but there are specialist policies which do cater for people who do these activities.
“It is vital to make sure the product you buy covers you for the risks you are running. It may be that you have to pay a bit more to get a policy to meet that need – obviously the risks associated with that activity are going to be higher.
“There is a huge range of policies which meet people’s individual interests. It is about finding a policy which is tailored to your needs.”
Paul is hoping to recover some costs for the curtailment of his holiday which ended in such an abrupt and devastating way.
“I never got the chance to see California which is a pity. The accident happened at such an early stage of the holiday – it ended there and then. But I had paid about 3,000 for it so its quite a lot of money to lose.”
Emma Parker, a spokeswoman for the Financial Ombudsman Service says curtailment is one of the main areas where queries from holidaymakers about travel insurance arise.
“If the main purpose of the holiday is activity based – and you have an accident, then it is quite clear that you can no longer enjoy the main purpose of the holiday which you have gone abroad for.
“In those circumstances – depending on the wording of the policy – it would seem quite reasonable to make a claim for curtailment.”
Paul’s father, Victor (60) says his son’s survival was a miracle and he agrees that having insurance to cover the medical expenses was vital.
“It just goes to show what can happen. No one should ever go abroad without insurance – it does not matter whether it is skydiving or any other type of holiday. In fact, I think taking out travel and medical insurance should be compulsory. When Paul had the accident, the ambulance service, the fire service and the police were all called.
“Imagine having to pay for the cost of emergency services – it would be astronomical.”
Victor is also extremely appreciative of all the kind wishes of support Paul has had even from people who don’t know him.
“Everyone has been very kind and I would like to thank all of them for their letters, cards, wishes and prayers for Paul. It has meant a lot to him and helped him stay positive.”
As a sports fanatic, Paul is understandably frustrated that he is confined to bed for most of the day as his rehabilitation proceeds slowly.
After returning to Northern Ireland, he spent eight weeks in Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry and Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital which he is still attending for extensive physiotherapy sessions.
Unable to stand without the aid of crutches and facing the prospect of a hip replacement, Paul admits his days of skydiving could be over.
“When you skydive you feel like you are floating – you are falling through the air at 120 miles an hour. It is an exhilarating feeling.
“I don’t know if I will be able to experience it ever again. I will miss that – but at least I’m alive.”
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
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