They were injured two days into a two-week dream holiday

A couple's dream Philippines trip has been ruined after a horror scooter crash left them hospitalised with a ruptured spleen and broken bones. Daniel Guz, 49, and partner Julia Sek, 45, planned a dream two-week trip travelling around the Philippines as an early birthday present for Daniel's 50th in April.

The couple, from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, paid for flights and booked their starting destination of Palawan Island. But on March 5, just two days after they arrived, while out on a scooter tour of the town of El Nido, their bike slipped - sending them skidding over 50 metres off the road.

Daniel, a lorry driver, and Julia, a printer, were transferred to a hospital in the capital, Manila, because their injuries were too severe for any treatment locally. Daniel had a ruptured spleen and broken leg and hip, while Julia broke both arms, and they remain stuck in the hospital having various surgeries, unaware when they can return to the UK.

Daniel, a dad of one, said: "There was sand, or maybe oil, on the road and I lost control of our bike. There was only one ambulance in the village so they had to take Julia to hospital and then come back to take me. We had two days of fantastic holiday and we've been in hospital ever since. But the good thing is, we didn't die, and we are together. We got a second chance."

The couple planned to explore El Nido and explore its beautiful lagoons and cliffs then explore other areas of the Philippines. W ithin two hours of setting off on the scooter, a slippery patch sent their bike sliding off the road at speed.

They skidded over grass, rocks and stones before coming to a stop between electricity posts, narrowly avoiding colliding with one. Locals and some nearby Filipino soldiers rushed over to help the semi-conscious couple and called an ambulance.

Daniel said: "We were crying, we knew we had broken bones, Julia's hands, face and teeth were all broken."

They were transported one at a time by ambulance to a local hospital in the village, but had to be transported twice more throughout the day because the smaller local hospitals weren't equipped to treat such severe injuries. The couple ended up being taken overnight to another hospital.

Daniel said: "We were in pain, being driven 400 miles by ambulance on B roads all night."

But that morning, they were transported yet again, to St Luke's Medical Center, because it was supported by their health insurance. At this point they were scanned and the extent of their injuries revealed. Daniel needed two separate surgeries - one to remove his spleen, and another to repair his legs and hip bones.

Julia also needed a surgery on both arms to put metal implants into the bones. Daniel said: "At the moment this hospital is the best to help us. We can only be positive. My daughter has sent over movies for us to watch in hospital."

Their treatments are covered by insurance but the couple will need private physiotherapy and potentially further treatment when they return to the UK. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched by their friend, Monika, to help them on their return.

Daniel, who himself is an avid fundraiser for humanitarian causes when at home in the UK, said: "We don't know when we'll be able to return to work, and we'll probably need extra physiotherapy. "We are in contact with the Polish Ambassador to get us home to the UK."