Mother left fighting for life after Tenerife hotel accident caused by mosquito bite

A family holiday in Tenerife turned into a terrifying ordeal when a Dublin mother-of-two, Emma Hickey, collapsed after swelling from severe mosquito bites and suffered a catastrophic fall down a hotel staircase, leaving her fighting for life in an induced coma.

Emma, aged 42, had traveled with her partner, Stephen Brougham, and their children, Sophie (13) and Bobby (7), for a relaxing escape on the Spanish island. But midway through their stay, Emma awoke covered in “dozens and dozens” of painful mosquito bites. She sought medical attention and was prescribed injections to ease the irritation, but that relief was short-lived. As the combination of medication, blistering sun, and pain overwhelmed her, she became dizzy and tumbled head-first down a flight of stairs, collapsing and convulsing at the bottom. “It was horrific… a mental scar I’ll never forget,” Stephen later told People.

The consequences were immediately dire. Emma fractured her neck and suffered blood clots in her brain, forcing doctors to place her in a medically induced coma during emergency surgery. The extent of her eventual recovery remains uncertain. Her partner and children have remained by her bedside in Tenerife—unable to work or return due to spiraling hospital bills, reportedly around $1,400 per day.

Supporters have rallied around the family. A GoFundMe campaign launched by friends has quickly raised tens of thousands of euros to cover mounting costs. Local clubs in Dublin, like Ayrfield United FC where Stephen coaches, have publicly encouraged donations and offered moral support.

This incident highlights more than just financial hardship—it underscores how seemingly minor mosquito bites can have severe consequences, including infection, dizziness, and in Emma’s tragic case, a debilitating fall. While Tenerife has a known presence of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and active monitoring programs at airports and greenhouses, authorities have not linked this specific incident to any disease transmission.

The family’s ordeal is a sobering reminder of holiday risks that go beyond sunburn or jet lag. Mosquitoes may appear harmless, but they can carry infections or cause intense allergic reactions—potentially destabilizing even a healthy adult. Combined with heat and medication, as Emma experienced, the stakes can suddenly become life-threatening.

Emma remains under intensive care in Tenerife. Her condition is described as stable but critical. Every day brings hope—and each breathing moment is a step toward clarity on her long-term prognosis.

For now, her family remains in limbo: out of work, far from home, and watching over a mother whose life was dramatically upheaved by a swarm of tiny insects. Their fight—and Emma’s road to recovery—has only just begun.