Benfleet's Kerstie Metcalf home after cardiac arrest on holiday

Kerstie Metcalf, a nurse at the Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust, is now back in the country after the sudden cardiac arrest in Hungary.

The 51-year-old was resuscitated but put into a coma and has suffered brain damage.

The family set up a GoFundMe page following the incident and now £19,860 has been raised with 903 donations.

The family is now closing the online fundraising page and has issued an update online following her return.

They posted: “First and foremost thank you so much for all the donations given by you wonderful people. Getting my mum home and being able to see and hug her has been the greatest feeling in the world.

“We have decided to close the Gofundme page now, we have had the invoice now and the money raised has fully covered the whole repatriation cost, which is just incredible!

“Thank you to every person who donated, shared and interacted with the page. we wouldn’t have got her home without the kindness each person has shown.

“I would also like to thank the amazing team at Southend hospital who have been incredible with my mum. These NHS heroes give so much and deserve so much more.

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“She is still having tests to determine what her recovery looks like, but it is look much more positive than we were lead to believe, but that is something else we will deal with once mum is in a healthier position.

“Finally, it’s a long road ahead but with the help and support of friends and family we will get her through this.”

Kerstie worked across Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals and for 30 years has been a wound specialist tissue viability nurse.

The nurse is registered disabled and the family previously said she had found it “extremely” difficult to obtain insurance and didn’t have private medical insurance.

Dave Blackwell, Canvey Independent leader of Castle Point Council said: “It’s a shocking thing to hear of and my heart really goes out to the family.

“Whenever there are things like this people will rally around and always will help out. I think without a doubt she’s in the right place and Southend Hospital is great.”