*When Tyler Perry heard about the couple who were trapped in a Mexican hospital, which wouldn’t let them leave until their bill was paid, the Hollywood mogul stepped in to put an end to their nightmare.
The Atlanta couple, Tori Austin and Stephen Johnson, were traveling on a Carnival Dream cruise ship when Johnson fell ill and was diagnosed on board with pancreatitis and diabetes, WGCL reports.
They were forced to seek medical treatment and were prevented from leaving the hospital when they couldn’t afford to pay their $14,000 medical bill.
Austin claims hospital staffers threatened to call the police if they tried to leave and they also locked the windows to further preventing them from fleeing, per PEOPLE.
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A Mexican vacation has turned into a nightmare for this metro Atlanta couple. They say a hospital won’t let them leave. NEXT AT 5:45: @JustinGrayWSB speaks with the couple about the problems they are having to come home: https://t.co/npsvpw9Bw5 pic.twitter.com/4YnjlX2TaW
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) November 20, 2019
“It’s been a nightmare. We just want to come home,” Austin told WGCL, as Johnson added, “[It’s] hell. I very much so am a hostage.”
A source tells PEOPLE that Perry paid the couple’s medical bill and will also cover their travel expenses once they’re cleared to leave.
Via TMZ:
We’ve learned that Tyler tried calling up the hospital and giving them his credit card info to cover the tab entirely — but he was rebuffed, and instead … we’re told he ended up having to wire the money, which should hopefully arrive by Monday. Once that’s taken care of, sources tell us Stephen is scheduled to be discharged by Tuesday.
“Today I am thankful for and will always be thankful for Tyler Perry,” Austin wrote on Facebook Sunday. “My mom was also a huge fan of his.”
Austin says she’s still down with traveling to Mexico again in the future.
“What is going on with Stephen has nothing to do with the entire country, it has to do with this particular hospital,” she wrote. “We were unaware that this particular hospital and administration staff have been known to take American passports and hold them for payment.”
“I love MEXICO and the Culture,” she added. “I’ll be back again but will leave on my own terms. We have no ill feelings for the country or the people, just this hospital.”
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