Massachusetts dad on trip of a lifetime sailing around South Pacific is suddenly taken ill after noticing bug bite on his body

By EMMA RICHTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:41, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 22:53, 30 June 2026 A beloved Massachusetts father has been left fighting for his life after a bug bite put him in the intensive care unit while on the trip of a lifetime with his wife.  Scott Winslow, 68, and his wife, Claire Winslow, left their home in Holbrook in April to embark on a 'dream' sailing adventure around the South Pacific, but just weeks in, the trip took a brutal turn, his family said.  The three-month voyage was quickly upended after Scott noticed what appeared to be an insect bite on his body that left him so weak he could 'no longer walk off the boat on his own' once they got to shore in Fiji, a loved one said in a GoFundMe fundraiser.  His health rapidly started to decline after emergency personnel transported him to a local hospital, where doctors discovered he was in septic shock, they revealed.  The infection has spread to organs, including his gallbladder and lungs, and Scott's kidneys can only function at 'a fraction of their normal capacity,' the page read.  His wife has even been told 'to prepare for the worst' as Scott's health continues to rapidly deteriorate. Now, his family back in the US is working tirelessly to get Scott back home, especially because the care in Fiji is limited.  'By the time he got to a doctor, he was so sick,' his worried daughter, Lisa Babbin, told WBZ-TV.  Scott Winslow, 68, is critically ill after he noticed an insect bite on his body while sailing around the South Pacific with his wife Scott and Claire Winslow, both 68, embarked on the journey in April. Their family said it has always been their 'dream' to go on the trip She said he has been hooked up to a ventilator and has also been diagnosed with pneumonia.  Because of that, he needs to get dialysis treatment, but the hospital only has one machine that administers it.  'Every hour counts for my father. Now they have to take the ventilator off, he's been on the ventilator for 11 days, you can only be on it for so long. And now he's got another bacteria infection, and they only have limited antibiotics,' Babbin explained.  His family has secured a bed for him at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts, but a special flight to get him transported there could cost as much as $250,000.  'All we need is a mediflight, that's the only thing we need to get him home. Mediflights are not cheap,' Babbin added.  The family has gone on to launch the donation page so they can raise enough money to get him back home. They have also applied for an emergency US government loan for the medical evacuation, but have not been told if they've been approved yet.  His family has secured a bed for him at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts, but a special flight to get him transported there could cost as much as $250,000 Scott (far left) has been described as a hardworking family man who used to work 80-plus-hour weeks as a contractor before he retired Other than the expensive medical flight, the family has also been hit with hefty bills because they do not have insurance coverage in the foreign country, the fundraiser stated.  'Because this crisis occurred in a foreign country and without medical insurance coverage, the medical expenses continue to grow rapidly.  'In addition, when Scott is stable enough to travel, he will likely require specialized medical transportation and ongoing care to safely return home and begin what will hopefully be a full recovery,' the family revealed.  Scott has been described as a hardworking family man who used to work 80-plus-hour weeks as a contractor before he retired.  'He has spent a lifetime helping others, supporting his family, and being there whenever someone needed him,' his loved ones said.  As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $20,000 had been raised to help the struggling family get Scott the care that he needs back in the States.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.