Travel Guard® North America Announces Winner of World's Unluckiest Traveler 2: The Rescue

STEVENS POINT, Wis., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When a harrowing honeymoon experience resulted in an emergency surgery for her new husband, Rebecca Fischer morphed into the ultimate travel hero, identifying resources to help save his life, all while the two were halfway around the world. Thanks to her heroics, Rebecca, of Dallas, Tex., has been awarded a $10,000 "Hero's Vacation" in Travel Guard North America's (www.TravelGuard.com) World's Unluckiest Traveler 2: The Rescue contest.

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Rebecca, a frequent business traveler, and her husband, Bruce Hill, a thrill-seeking firefighter, had originally planned a vacation to Fiji and New Zealand to scuba dive and explore.  But when Bruce proposed several weeks prior to departure, it became an impromptu destination wedding and honeymoon.  The trip was even more amazing than expected, but days before they were scheduled to return to Texas, Bruce began feeling ill.  Not wanting to ruin Rebecca's dream destination wedding and honeymoon, Bruce powered his way through the rest of the trip.  Just after the couple boarded their plane back to the states, Bruce's pain worsened and they begged the flight attendant to let them deplane.  Airline representatives directed them to a local clinic for treatment.  After a tumultuous, overpriced cab ride, they arrived to find the clinic closed.

As Bruce's condition worsened, he stumbled into a local barbershop while Rebecca phoned for help.  A kind local in the middle of a haircut generously offered a ride to the nearest clinic, where Bruce was told his appendix had burst and was rushed into emergency surgery at yet another hospital.  Just two days after the surgery, they were required to leave before Bruce fully recovered, sending Rebecca into a frenzy over her new husband's health.  Rebecca made arrangements at an extended stay hotel where the two holed up while Rebecca's organizational and care-giving skills were put to the test.  She nursed her husband back to health while simultaneously making numerous international phone calls, sending emails and arranging to get her husband medical clearance to fly home.  After finally receiving approval to fly, an exhausted Rebecca arranged new flights and brought Bruce home safe and sound.

"Ms. Fischer is the ultimate do-gooder and certainly worthy of the $10,000 'Hero's Vacation' for keeping her cool in such a dire situation," said Carol Mueller, vice president, Travel Guard North America. "We have all experienced travel mishaps, and we hope that stories like Rebecca's will inspire other travelers to take a minute and help someone in need, be it a stranger or a family member.  Her story, and all of the entries submitted throughout the contest, is proof that no one is immune to travel mishaps, making a travel insurance plan all the more valuable."  

"I am very fortunate in so many ways to have had Rebecca lead me through this time," said Bruce. "She is always organized, in order and a great planner, so when things started to go off course she was definitely out of her comfort zone.  Luckily, she didn't run, but instead stood strong to the challenge and overcame the obstacles that were thrown our way.  She is a trooper and I love her for that!  She and the many other strangers who stepped into help, including the hospital staff at Middlemore Public Hospital, who were incredibly comforting and helpful; Byron Davis, the man from the barbershop who drove us to the clinic; and many others, are shining examples of travel heroes in my book. I hope Rebecca will use her dream vacation to make up for the medical drama that accompanied us on our honeymoon!"

To learn more about Rebecca and Bruce's story, visit www.TravelGuard.com/Unlucky to view a video detailing their ordeal.

About Travel Guard

Travel Guard, a Chartis company and worldwide leader in travel insurance and assistance, provides products and services to millions of travelers around the globe, including a wide range of emergency services through its wholly-owned assistance centers located in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Travel Guard helps leisure and business travelers alike solve problems and manage risks. Travel Guard's global reach, unparalleled service quality and proven operational capabilities allow clients to receive best-in-class care. Travel Guard's suite of technology platforms enables seamless integration with all major travel distribution systems and supplier channels. The travel insurance products marketed by Travel Guard are underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries and affiliates of Chartis Inc. For additional information, please visit our websites at www.travelguard.com and www.travelguardworldwide.com.

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NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND OR SALES PRESENTATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST AND SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  The Travel Guard "Random Act of Kindness" Promotion starts May 30, 2011 at 9:00:00 AM EST and ends October 31, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST. Open to legal residents of the United States (excluding U.S. Territories), age 21 and over, and residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) over the age of majority in their province/territory, at the time of entry. The Promotion consists of a Video/Photo Contest ("Contest") component and a Voter Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes") Component. To Enter the Contest: Beginning May 30, 2011 at 9:00:00 AM EST and ending September 5, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST go to www.TravelGuard.com and submit either a video or a photo along with an accompanying story describing your submission (between 10 and 200 words), about a random act of kindness by someone who has helped you or someone else when away from home, along with your full name, email address, phone number, country and state/province/territory of residence and a username and password, and the full name, email address, phone number, country and state/province/territory of residence of the Nominee. Contest Entries must be submitted by September 5, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST. Limit one Unique Contest Entry per person/household per day. To Enter the Sweepstakes: Beginning October 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM EST and ending October 31, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST, go to www.TravelGuard.com, and vote for one of the eligible Contest Entries, enter your full name, email address, phone number, country and state/province/territory of residence and a username and password. You will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes ("Entry") for your Vote if you voted for the eventual Contest Grand Prize Winner. Limit one (1) Vote/Entry per person/email address per day. Odds of winning the Sweepstakes Prize depends on the number of Votes received for the Contest Grand Prize Winner during the Voting Period. Sponsor: Travel Guard Group, Inc., 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54482.  Void in Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories, Quebec and where prohibited by law. Subject to full official rules, available at www.TravelGuard.com/Unlucky.

Travel Guard's sponsorship of the World's Unluckiest Traveler Contest is not intended to represent in any respect that Travel Guard's insurance plans cover any of the events depicted in any single entry. For full and complete insurance coverage details, please contact Travel Guard directly.

SOURCE Travel Guard North America