Dad virtually dies on dream vacation after ‘spewing a litre of blood’ by the pool

Peter Beetham, 49 was celebrating being cancer-free after three years of chemotherapy when he jetted off to Gran Canaria for a £12,500 all-inclusive holiday – but it turned into a horror story

A dad’s dream getaway became a horror story when he “lost all the blood in his body” beside the swimming pool. Peter Beetham flew to Gran Canaria for a week-long break to mark being cancer-free following three years of chemotherapy.

The 49-year-old, who had battled pancreatic cancer, was thrilled to embark on the £12,500 all-inclusive trip with his partner Sharleene Hickman and one of his mates. However, on the second day, the father says he was simply relaxing poolside when he began “spewing a litre of blood,” before collapsing while heading to the loo.

The hotel called an ambulance which rushed Peter to hospital, but he alleges medics discharged him claiming he merely had sunstroke. It was only when Peter started “losing constant blood” in the toilet the following day that he chose to return home, securing a £50 flight two days later.

Peter headed directly to Manchester Royal Infirmary after touching down at Manchester Airport, where he was informed he had internal bleeding. Doctors allegedly discovered an ulcer that had ‘exploded’ in Peter’s bowel, which he said resulted from the surgery he underwent to remove his pancreas in August 2025.

Peter was left terrified for his life after being told he could have died on the plane or beside the pool. The former landscaper received seven blood transfusions and surgery, while remaining in hospital for 18 days, reports Cheshire Live.

Peter, from Winsford, Cheshire, said: “I went [on holiday] with my partner and my friend because I had just beaten cancer. I was six months clear from cancer and I thought I would go away for a week. I had surgery to have my pancreas removed, which is where the cancer was.

“We couldn’t wait to get away. I was on chemo for three years so it’s been a while. I was sitting there drinking water and felt a bit sick. Then I spewed up a litre of blood from my mouth. I went to the toilet and took three steps and collapsed.

“The hotel called an ambulance and I went to the hospital. They just looked at me like there’s nothing wrong with me and said it was a heat sunstroke and gave me some hydration drink.

“They told me to rest and I’ll be alright. I went back to my hotel as normal. I woke up the next morning and went to the toilet seven times and there was constant blood coming out the back of me.

“We thought it’s not right. We flew home the next day. I went straight to Manchester Royal. They said I had internal bleeding because an ulcer exploded. Because they left a little bit of pancreas in there it caused an ulcer to grow around my bowel and it blew up.

“I had seven blood transfusions and a small operation and now I’m on the mend. It was horrific, I’m very lucky to be alive.

“I was feeling awful, they said I should have been dead at the side of the pool. They said even the flight back could have killed me. They didn’t know how I was alive.”

Peter is thankful to be breathing after losing ‘every bit of blood’ in his body, but confessed his getaway was completely wrecked.

Peter said: “I had four cameras down on me, the first three couldn’t find anything and the fourth one they found the ulcer. I came home for six hours and started spewing blood again so went back to hospital.

“We didn’t feel safe there with all the blood coming out of me. I literally lost every bit of blood in my body, I was dead. I’m very lucky.

“It ruined the holiday. As soon as I started spewing blood I went white, my lips went crystal clear, I thought I was going to die on the side of the pool.”

The father-of-two is now recovering and is due to return to hospital for another iron transfusion and scans. Peter claims he is now too frightened to book another break after the ordeal.

Peter said: “I have to go back to have another iron transfusion. Then I will have a scan to make sure it’s healing properly.

“I knew it wasn’t a sunstroke because I had been there two days and I wasn’t even out in the sun. I was drinking plenty of water so I knew it wasn’t that.

“Luckily nothing happened on the flight. I’m too scared to plan another holiday.”