A Fife expat couple say they are unable to fly home to South Africa after a medical form went missing.
Norman and Christina Gray, who live in South Africa, were due to fly home 11 days ago but had to change their flights after Christina fell ill and was admitted to hospital.
They are now claiming a medical form declaring Christina fit to fly went missing while being processed at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, leaving them stranded in Scotland.
Mr Gray, 81, said: “Emirates will not let us on the plane unless we have this piece of paper, which is somewhere in the Victoria Hospital.
“It would appear that other people don’t know either and the man that would know is now on annual leave.”
Mr Gray, a former engineer who worked on the construction of the Forth Road Bridge in the 60s, moved from Kirkcaldy to South Africa with his wife 41 years ago.
They live in Ballito, a holiday town about 25 miles from Durban on the country’s east coast.
Mrs Gray fell ill during the morning of the day they were supposed to fly from Glasgow to Durban. She was treated at Victoria Hospital for an infection and also underwent a brain scan as it was suspected she may have suffered a minor stroke.
Despite the health setback, Mr Gray said she has been told she is fit to fly.
The couple are now in self catering accommodation until the paperwork gets sorted out and they can go home.
“We were supposed to fly back a week past Sunday,” said Mr Gray.
“And the doctor said she’s in better heath now than when she arrived.
“I really am at my wits’ end because we are actually running out of money.
“We’re also running out of chronic medication.”
Mr and Mrs Gray spent more than £3,000 on flights and had to shell out another £500 to change their travel dates.
Mr Gray added: “I don’t know what’s happening and I’m at the end of my tether. I’m 81 and I want to get back to South Africa.”
NHS Fife patient relations manager Donna Hughes said: “NHS Fife is unable to discuss individual patients or their care.”
