A man who came to the UK by small boat got free NHS surgery before flying back to Albania for just £48.
The man, who didn’t want to be named, ran away from a migrant hotel soon after arriving in Dover. He then worked at a cannabis farm for a few years but decided to return home because he was earning less than the minimum wage there.
Before leaving, he says he went to an NHS hospital, gave his real name, and had surgery for a burst appendix. “I was in pain, had the operation, and then left. It was easy because it was an emergency,” he said during a video call from Albania.
He added, “I thought about leaving before the surgery, but after it, I was sure. I regret coming to Britain. It was like a bad dream. I came for money but made nothing.”
Even though his details were recorded when he arrived by boat, he says he had no trouble leaving the UK using the same passport checked by British authorities when he was rescued from the boat. “They didn’t even ask for documents. I just gave them my passport and left. It cost me £5,000 to come here and only £48 to fly back,” he said.
The tough life in the illegal job market made him decide to return. After quitting his job at the cannabis farm, he struggled to earn enough doing cash-in-hand work.
Since going back to Albania, he’s been trying to convince others not to risk the dangerous boat trip to the UK. “Last night, a friend said he wanted to go, but I told him it’s not what it seems,” he said.
He called the boat journey “a silly thing to do” and said he wouldn’t do it again. If he ever returned, he’d rather pay £10,000 to come by plane, but he has vowed never to come back, even with legal documents.
The Sunday Express first spoke to him when he was living illegally in the UK. He laughed at Keir Starmer’s plan to stop small boat crossings by “smashing the gangs.”
When asked how the man could escape a hotel, use NHS services, and then leave the UK, a Home Office spokesperson said they stay in touch with asylum seekers to ensure they follow the rules. If someone doesn’t comply, their asylum claim can be withdrawn, especially if they leave the UK without permission.
