Kind strangers have helped repatriate a popular British man who found himself paralysed after having a glass of wine at dinner in Spain's Benidorm. Robert 'Benidorm Bob' Atkinson, 67, was enjoying a meal with his wife Carol, 64, in the resort town before she was due to head back to the UK, when he was struck down with a mystery illness, which saw his legs suddenly give way beneath him. Now unable to walk, he eventually managed to crawl to bed with the help of his partner. However, when he awoke the next morning, he couldn't get out of bed or use his legs. Bob, from Yorkshire, was taken to hospital, where neurosurgeons raced him through for emergency spinal surgery. During the operation, medics discovered a tumour on his spine and told him he may never be able to walk again. He's been in intensive care ever since. His niece Sophie Rush shared details of Bob's plight on GoFundMe, where - at the time of writing - the family has raised £11,336 (€13,246) of their £15,000 (€17,527) goal. When he was taken to hospital, Bob's pre-purchased travel insurance meant that the paramedics took him to a private facility, Bob's sister added on the page, explaining how the insurer initially agreed to pay out, Mirror UK reports. She claims they are "now trying everything not to pay" and that "because it's such a large amount it's an unusual situation". Yesterday, Bob's sister shared another update in which she revealed Bob would finally be coming home, but is having to travel by land because he's "not fit to fly". She said: "As you can imagine all the stress of getting him home is very upsetting for him. I am in the UK now and fighting from this side. Carol is struggling with all the difficult navigation needed to get Bob home. Phone calls etc. "This time should be spent focusing on Bob but she can't as it's been spent trying to raise funds to get him home and dealing with the hospital. She has had to sign the agreement to pay the hospital bill which is now at approx £45,000 (€52,583). "We are so thankful to everyone who has donated and shared the go fund me page so after a substantial private donation to Carol Atkinson from Acorn rugby club in york we have managed to book transport for repatriation. Bob is set to be coming home by land over the next couple of days as he's not fit to fly. We just want him home. "He is paralysed from the waist down and our last hope is that when he gets back to the UK this may have something to do with the tumour that was discovered during his operation pressing on his spine. Xx thank you to everyone who has been kind to our family at this difficult time xx" Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.