Mom Breaks Neck in 'Horrific' Fall Down Stairs After 'Dozens and Dozens' of Mosquito Bites

````````````````````````````````````````````````````When an Irish family set off for a summer vacation, bug bites were the last thing on their mind. Now, a mother lies in an induced coma as her partner struggles to figure out what's next.

A dream family holiday in Spain turned into a nightmare when a mother of two suffered a horrific fall at her hotel, resulting in neck fractures and brain bleeding.

The terrifying accident, which left her fighting for her life, is believed to have been triggered by a severe reaction to dozens of mosquito bites.

Emma Hickey is a 42-year-old Irish caretaker from Kilbarrack, in north Dublin. On June 13, 2025, Hickey set off for a sunny 12-day trip to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, with her partner, Stephen Brougham, and their children Sophie and Bobby, 13 and 7 years old, respectively.

Ten days later, on June 23, Hickey woke up riddled with mosquito bites. It was so bad she decided to head to the hospital, where doctors prescribed injections to help with her many insect bites.

Later that day, the family was descending the hotel stairs and heading for a pharmacy. Hickey suddenly felt lightheaded and immediately collapsed, her head hitting a step of the concrete staircase as she fell.

Hickey then started convulsing. After an ambulance rushed her to the hospital, doctors conducted a CT scan and found that her brain was bleeding and would require surgery.

They also found fractures in her neck and decided to place her in an induced coma. Brougham described the ordeal:

"'She passed out on the steps and started convulsing, she was in a terrible state. It's been horrific because I actually witnessed the fall and how bad the fall was. That's a mental scar that I'll never forget. Words can't describe how bad it is."

Brougham chalked up Hickey's misadventure to "the mosquito bites, the medication, the heat and the fact she tried to soldier through the holiday just for the sake of the kids." He added,

"'They were draining the life out of her and they're all over her body, dozens and dozens."

“We came away for a lovely family holiday and it's been a living nightmare,” said Brougham, who is self-employed and looking for temporary accommodation options for himself and the children.

Doctors decided to keep Hickey in intensive care until she regains consciousness. In the meantime, Brougham is taking care of the kids and dealing with their insurance provider, hoping they'll help foot the $1,400-per-day hospital bill.

To that end, a fundraiser was set up on GoFundMe on Brougham's behalf to help the family with expenses as they navigate this difficult time. GoFundMe organizer Karen Whelan wrote:

"We, Emma’s family and friends would ask for your help to support Emma’s partner Stephen who is self employed, and their kids Sophie and Bobby, as they stay by Emma’s side in Tenerife to provide some relief in the day to day expenses so they can focus on the long road of recovery in front of them."

While Tenerife is warm and sunny throughout the year, mosquito populations on the island are reportedly rather low. However, they are more common in areas that are regularly watered, such as tourist resorts and large gardens.

Tenerife Insider Tips recommends frequent application of over-the-counter mosquito repellents, which are available in most supermarkets.

Broughan said they were unaware of the mosquito situation and didn't consider repellents. "It's not something we ever considered how bad a bite could be. It's amazing how much pain a little tiny insect can have on you," he said.

We hope Hickey makes a full recovery soon. Our best wishes go out to the family in this trying time.