WHEN teenager Paul Hull was taken ill during a family holiday in the Caribbean, his mum and dad were in a dilemma.

Paul's ear infection meant he could not fly home - but the Hulls' insurance meant only one adult could stay with him.

Kim and Cook Hull decided there was only one solution. They got out the cards and played poker to determine who should remain in the sun for an extra week.

And the lucky winner was Kim, who stayed with Paul in their plush hotel overlooking the pool while Cook, daughter Kayleigh and Grandad Ivor returned to Sussex.

The family's problems began when 14-year-old Paul developed ear trouble the day before they were due to fly home from the Club Rockley holiday resort in Barbados after a two-week holiday.

Their insurance firm said it would only pay the £1,000 cost of one adult staying with Paul for another week until his infection cleared up and he was allowed to fly.

Doctors said Paul picked up the infection from swimming in the sea. It left him feeling sick and dizzy and flying would have increased the pressure on his ears and caused further problems.

The family's plight - and the democratic way they solved it - caught the attention of a BBC crew filming a fly-on-the-wall documentary series at the resort which is now being screened.

Kim, 37, speaking from the family home in Chichester Close, Tilgate, Crawley, said at first they had no idea the crew were there.

She said: "We were amazed when a person approached us and said they were filming for the BBC and were interested in our story.

"We thought it sounded like a bit of fun so agreed to let them go ahead."

The crew's footage includes Kim, Cook, 35, Paul, Kayleigh, 11, and Kim's dad, Ivor Heartfield, 62, visiting the doctor at the resort and making their final decision.

Kim said: "It felt great at first when I stayed on with Paul but in reality I was really quite glad when the week ended and we were able to fly home.

"Paul was unwell and couldn't swim or enjoy himself much and with the rest of the family gone I did feel a bit guilty."

The third programme of the six-part series, Caribbean Holiday, features the week Paul and Kim spent alone at the resort. It will be screened on BBC1 on Wednesday at 7pm.

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