Tourist relives broken neck dive BBC News
Later, at the hospital, Mr Lonergan said they were informed the insurance would not cover the medical fees.
"All of a sudden, they must've had a phone call off the insurance company and then things just went crazy," he said.
"We knew then that the insurance company weren't going to pay for the cost of the hospital, they weren't going to pay for the hotel for the last five days, they weren't going to pay to fly me home."
He said the original cost of the hospital fees was £43,000, but that was reduced to £16,000, while the £20,000 to fly him home was settled by his employers.
"I suppose if it wasn't for [employers] Harsco Metals and Tata Steel, I don't know where I'd be at the minute," he added.
At the time, Mr Lonergan's insurance company said clients should not expose themselves to "needless risk".
Since the accident, he has made good progress, and from being unable to move anything three months ago, now has good movement in his right side.


