A WOMAN was reunited with her sister and nephew after winning a competition.

Paramedic Caroline Holland, 50, of Telscombe Cliffs, near Peacehaven, was one of 40 Brits to be flown to Australia’s Gold Coast, where she was reunited with her nephew for the first time since he fell seriously ill.

Four years ago, Caroline’s sister Alison emigrated to Australia with her seven-year-old son.

Since then, her nephew has been diagnosed with epilepsy, then had a reaction to his medication resulting in Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Without any family to help, Alison supported her son through the illness and he has now recovered.

Caroline said: “It’s so amazing to see her, words can’t describe. We speak all the time but chatting over the phone isn’t the same as seeing her. We are having such a great time out here. We are so grateful to be here together.

“I’ve never won an argument let alone a holiday.

“I couldn’t believe it when I found out I’d won the trip to Queensland to see my sis. I was over the moon.”

The competition was run by Tourism and Events Queensland and Flight Centre UK, which searched the nation for candidates who wanted to be reunited with close friends and family in Australia.

The 80 winners spent a week basking in the Australian sunshine, visiting the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and heading to the beach for paddle board and surf lessons.

Sarah Dean, from Flight Centre UK, said: “We were inundated with applications, so many heart-warming stories. The airport was incredible. I don’t think I have ever seen so many happy tears.”