A MUM-OF-THREE may have to re-mortgage her home to pay her father's £25,000 medical bill after he suffered a heart attack while on holiday.

John Georgiou, 64, of Ash Row, Petts Wood, fell ill in Cyprus in April, weeks after being given the all clear to travel by his GP.

HSBC, which provided Mr Georgiou with travel insurance, is refusing to pay up, claiming the family did not inform them of his medical circumstances.

And because the attack happened days before Cyprus joined the European Union, Mr Georgiou must foot the bill.

Mr Georgiou was admitted into hospital with breathing difficulties two weeks into his trip and tests showed a 95 per cent blockage to his arteries.

He underwent an operation, but hours later suffered a major heart attack and spent the next three months at the American Heart Institute.

He was transferred to Nicosia General Hospital where a life-saving implantable cardioverter defibrillator machine was fitted the £12,000 machines were recently the subject of a Daily Mail investigation concluding they were being underused in the UK because of their cost.

HSBC has refused cover because Mr Georgiou was taking medication for heart problems and had spent six days in the Princess Royal University Hospital in December being treated for fluid on the lungs.

His daughter Athina Hapeshis, 37, of Keswick Road, West Wickham, says the family never knew he was being treated for heart problems.

She said: "We weren't asked by HSBC if he had been in hospital recently and we had no idea fluid on the lungs was connected to heart failure, because nobody told us.

"He had no further tests or treatment on his heart here before he had the attacks in Cyprus.

"We just had no idea he had heart problems and his GP said he was fit to fly."

Now Mrs Hapeshis faces having to re-mortgage her home to pay the costs for her father, who is registered disabled.

She said: "This is the last thing you need when someone you love is ill but I can't let them drag my father through the courts."

Mr Georgiou is now recovering at home after returning from Cyprus last month.

An HSBC spokesman said: "It is a very unfortunate and distressing experience for the customer but essentially the reason he was turned down for his claim was because of a pre-existing heart condition."

The financial ombudsman had ruled in their favour on the case, she added.