Last updated: August 7, 2026
Humans of Allianz
A story of courage, compassion, and gratitude
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For retired police officer Bernie and his wife Tricia, the 50th wedding anniversary of the New Zealand-based couple was meant to be the trip of a lifetime - a seven-week milestone celebration through the UK, Ireland and a Mediterranean cruise. It was a holiday they had spent years planning, filled with special stops and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Within the first two weeks, however, their dream holiday took a devastating turn.
While travelling along the British M6 motorway, a weaving, high-speed driver slammed into their car, sending it spinning before crashing violently into a concrete barrier. Miraculously, both Bernie and Tricia survived, though Tricia suffered five broken ribs. Doctors were deeply concerned about the risk of puncturing her lungs and made it clear she could not continue with the remainder of the trip.
While the UK’s reciprocal healthcare agreement with New Zealand covered Tricia’s hospital treatment, the experience highlighted how many other expenses sit outside that arrangement, including lost deposits, prepaid tours and cancellations. When Tricia was eventually cleared to travel, she needed to return to New Zealand in business class with Bernie by her side as her non-medical escort, ensuring her comfort and safety throughout the long flights home.
After more than 30 years in the police force, Bernie had faced countless emergencies, yet nothing could have prepared him for this. Through the chaos and uncertainty, the couple found reassurance knowing that Allianz Travel Insurance was there when it mattered most, managing the logistics, covering the expenses, and helping them get home safely.
Against the odds, Bernie and Tricia survived, and now, they’re sharing their story of courage, compassion, and gratitude.
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About Allianz
The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers, active in almost 70 countries and serving around 97 million private and corporate customers*. Our customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, including property, life and health insurance, as well as assistance services, credit and global business insurance. Recognized for the seventh consecutive year as the number one global insurance brand in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2025 ranking, Allianz’s success is built on technology-enabled customer centricity – providing peace of mind, protection, and prevention for our customers and strengthening the resilience of individuals, communities, and societies. We are one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 791 billion euros** on behalf of our insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 2.2 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of environmental and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, Allianz received an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA (as of March 2026). In 2025, our 156,000 dedicated employees achieved a total business volume of 186.9 billion euros and an operating profit of 17.4 billion euros for our shareholders.
* As of December 31, 2025. Customer count reflects Allianz customers in consolidated entities that are part of the customer reporting scope only.
** As of June 30, 2026.
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