18 October 2023 , 15:12
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A dad has had to have emergency surgery after he was attacked on holiday in Turkey when a fight broke out over a declined card payment.
Derek Marsh was hospitalised following a fight outside a bar in Marmaris and has now been declared unfit to fly - meaning he can't get home without a private transfer. The 41-year-old was on holiday with wife Kelly when they claim they were set upon by six men after their card declined.
Derek suffered facial injuries after being punched in the face and is now raising cash to bring him home, with their daughter currently needing her parents at home as she suffers pregnancy complications. The family, from Chorley, Lancashire, need £7,000 to get Derek home.
Kelly told LancsLive: "Verbal abuse was used by both parties and started with them when my father in laws [sic] card was declined. I stepped in to pay with my card but I panicked and only pressed three numbers not four and asked them to reset."
"They then brought a different card machine and I entered the pin details. Whilst this was done he was calling me a f***ing English hussy that's why my drink was tipped on him."
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"The men with me had already started leaving the bar as the bill was settled and they dragged them in different directions not covered by CCTV so of course you will not see a full picture of the evening only the bits that they want people to see." Manchester Bar, where the fight ensued, has meanwhile denied being the aggressors, saying the family started the fight after throwing the drink.
The bar issued a long statement saying that "at no point" was there any debate about the bill not being paid, saying Derek and Kelly's group used foul language harassing a staff member before the drink was thrown.
"This is the same woman that has decided to go viral claiming this was an unprovoked attack," the bar said. "She then proceeds to physically attack our member of staff, alongside the male picking a chair up and attempting to hit another member of staff with it. Once the female customer exists the bar she too throws another chair back into the bar."
"We have nothing to hide or try to fabricate. If anyone would like to personally view the CCTV please do feel free to come along and ask." The bar added that police were aware of the fight and were viewing CCTV.
In response, Kelly said: "The bar are trying to justify themselves. They have not reported me to the police. The process is slow and we don't have time on our side right now. We will always help anybody out and at this time we feel awful for asking but have no choice. We are begging for kind strangers help to get to our daughters side."
To help fly Derek home, you can donate here.