British woman dies following heart attack in Dubai taxi

Charlotte Carter was on holiday when she died, and had no medical insurance to cover the return of her body

Despite being taken to intensive care and resuscitated “multiple times”, medical staff were unable to save Ms Carter

A British woman has died after suffering a heart attack in a Dubai taxi following a seven-hour flight from London.

Charlotte Carter, 30, a mental health nurse from Swansea, Wales, was travelling with friends on a girls’ holiday to the city on October 29.

According to reports, Ms Carter and her two friends had been drinking champagne before boarding the plane, which was where she first fell ill.

On arrival in the UAE, the party took a cab from the airport to their hotel, the Five Palm Jumeirah, but Ms Carter suffered a heart attack while en route.

Despite being taken to intensive care and resuscitated “multiple times”, medical staff were unable to save her.

Close friend Megan Boyes has since set up a JustGiving page in an effort to raise money to cover the costs of bringing Ms Carter's body back to the UK.

Because the holidaymaker had not taken out holiday insurance for the trip, which was to visit a friend living in the UAE, her family now faces a bill of £30,000 (Dh144,000) to repatriate her to Wales.

“We are raising money to help Charlotte's family with expensive Dubai medical bills, funeral costs and to help bring her home to the UK,” Ms Boyes said.

“Our gorgeous friend Charlotte tragically lost her life at the age of 30. She was so excited to go on holiday to Dubai on a girls' trip, but sadly she fell ill on the flight, which resulted in her being taken to intensive care once arriving in Dubai. After being resuscitated multiple times she unfortunately couldn't be saved.

“We want to help raise money. As many young people do, Charlotte didn't take out travel insurance which means the medical bills and repatriation costs will be very high.

“Charlotte was the most caring, kind and thoughtful person and she dedicated her life to helping others as a mental health nurse.

“She was taken from us far too young. Any contributions however big or small will be very much appreciated by her family and friends.

“We have changed the target to £30,000. Recently we have found out this is how much it will cost to bring her back - obviously this doesn't include the medical fees etc but it’s another important target for us to aim for and to help Charlotte's family.

“If we do end up raising more money than needed, all extra money will be donated to a mental health charity close to Charlotte's heart."

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Explained: The cost and procedure for repatriating a body from the UAE

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The JustGiving page had already raised more than £20,000 by 7pm GMT on Monday.

Another friend Melissa Jenkins, who was also part of the holiday group, said she was “heartbroken” to have lost her Ms Carter, who she described as an “angel”.

“Get our girl home – Charlotte Carter we love you,” she wrote in an online post. “Dubai will always have a piece of my heart but has also taken away a piece. Live your life you never know what’s round the corner ... always my angel xxx.”

Kate George, who Ms Carter had come to visit in Dubai, said: “My best friend came on holiday to see me and went into cardiac arrest in the taxi on the way to my house.

“Charlotte was on the flight messaging me saying she can’t wait to see me and planning our week.

“She was absolutely fine, even on top form, and this happens completely out of the blue.

“We need all the help we can get. A tragedy doesn’t even describe what’s happened to our beautiful, witty, charming girl.”

A Foreign Office and Commonwealth statement said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman following her death in the UAE, and are in contact with the Emirati authorities.”