A mum who is asking strangers to fund a £10,000 gastric bypass operation has defended her decision to take a luxury cruise.

Amy Murray, 31, who weighs 27 stone and fears she might die young, is appealing for donations to pay for a private gastric band operation .

But it has now emerged Amy, from Stalybridge , recently booked two luxury cruises after her husband Andrew, 36, received inheritance money.

But the mum-of-one says she has cancelled one of the holidays - and tried to get a refund on the other - after discovering her operation wouldn’t be funded on the NHS.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

Amy says she has been told that the remaining cruise holiday is non-refundable and that she only launched her fundraising bid after doctors said they would not offer the surgery, which she believes will save her life.

She says the family only booked the cruise as her daughter has additional needs, which means she is unable to fly, and cruise provider Royal Caribbean have a reputation for looking after children with communication problems.

Her online donations page has so far raised more than £350 since it was set up two days ago.

She said: “My husband Andrew received some inheritance money early last year. We booked two cruises, one next month and one for September.

“But after it became clear my operation was not going ahead we tried to cancel both.

Watch: Amy Murray explains why she wants surgery

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“We were only allowed to cancel the second one. We can’t get the money back on the first cruise so we will be going on that next month."

We reported on Sunday, how Amy says her weight gets in the way of everything, including caring for her three-year-old daughter Evie.

Amy has been referred to a weight-loss support group 18 months ago and was told to lose one-and-a-half stone before she could have the operation.

But claims when she did, she was then told she should carry on losing the weight naturally.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

In an emotional video, Amy admits that her obesity is completely her fault and that she is embarrassed to be asking for help.

She said: “I’m embarrassed that I’ve had to ask strangers for donations for surgery – it’s not something that I want to do but I need to do it.

“I will be dead by the time I’m 40 if I carry on the way that I am, and it was terrifying to be told that in nine years I may not be here.

“I’m fully aware that this is my fault, I’ve done this to myself and I know that and I wish I hadn’t but here I am.

“I want to see my daughter grow up and live a life with my husband.”

(Image: Joel Goodman)

Amy has struggled with her weight since she was a child and her unhealthy lifestyle and lack of exercise followed her into her teens and adulthood.

As well as being overweight, she is also disabled because of problems with the discs in her back and other health conditions.

She said: “I did eat unhealthily, but I’ve changed.

“I was a chocoholic and would skip breakfast and lunch, then in the evening when my daughter went to bed I’d binge on takeaways and crisps and chocolate.

“I know it’s my fault, and a lot of people won’t understand, they will just say I need to diet, or stop eating, I don’t want to be like this, but it’s not that easy, if it was I wouldn’t be in this position.”