English tourist seriously injured after fall from hotel balcony in Thailand
A 23 year old English tourist is seriously injured after falling three floors from a hotel balcony on Koh Phi Phi island in southern Thailand two weeks ago.
Kieran Martin, a personal trainer from Castleford in England, sustained an open-book pelvic fracture which caused internal bleeding when the accident happened ten days into his three-week dream holiday to Thailand with his girlfriend Shauna.
Kieran was transferred to Bangkok Hospital in Phuket where he received “a life-saving operation,” said Shauna.
Shauna launched a JustGiving fundraiser entitled, “Weʼre raising £100,000 to Help couple left stranded in Thailand hospital after tragic accident.”
The fundraiser says…
“Hi my name is Shauna, this is my boyfriend Kieran. Just 10 days into our 3 week dream holiday in Thailand, it turned into a nightmare. Kieran fell from our hotel balcony, he fell 3 floors down and suffered an open-book pelvic fracture which caused internal bleeding.
“After the traumatic accident, we had to get a speedboat from Phi Phi to Phuket so he could receive a lifesaving operation at Bangkok Phuket Hospital to stop the internal bleeding and stabilise his pelvis. Without the work of the hospital in Thailand, the situation could have been much more grave.
“He currently has external pelvic fixations and cannot move from a laying down position. He needs a second operation to insert internal fixations before he can start the long recovery process ahead before he will be able to sit on a flight to get home.”
Doctors advised Kieran to fly home, but…
“The doctors advised that we fly home in an air ambulance for his second operation, however we have been given quotes from £170,000-£250,000 without any help from the insurance. Unfortunately, nobody is in a position to be able to afford this.”
Shauna says Kieran’s insurance company isn’t helping…
“11 days post-accident and after an exhaustive and tiring fight with the insurance company, where they are trying to get themselves out of the claim, we are yet to receive a single penny to help.”
“We are now stuck in Thailand with no hope and rising hospital bills, we cannot keep up with the payments or afford to get home. His family have exhausted their savings on medical bills, the hospital are pressing for payments and we are no closer to getting home.”
So far, the fundraiser has raised £16,032 of the £100,000 target (16%) from 968 donors.
“The more delayed the second operation gets, the higher the risk of infection or further health implications. We are desperate to get his operation done so we get home to our families before he can start his rehabilitation process to learn to walk again.”
“Kieran is a 23 year old personal trainer, his life and passions revolve around the gym and his mobility being restored as soon as possible is vital for his career, physical and mental well-being. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy my heart is broken seeing the person I love the most suffer like this. His family and I are trying our best but our efforts are falling short and we need help to get home. Any help would be so greatly appreciated, as we are feeling at a loss.”
Nuffield Health Gym in Wakefield, where Kieran works, posted a message on Facebook…
“We’re helping to raise £100,000 to help our beloved Wellbeing Personal Trainer Kieran and his partner who have been left stranded in Thailand hospital after a tragic accident.
“Many of you will know and will have seen Kieran around the club offering his support and teaching classes.
“Any gesture no matter how small is really appreciated. Let’s get him home!”
Kieran’s tragic case is very similar to that of a young English woman who fell from a second-floor balcony in Koh Pha Ngan on New Year’s Eve.
Maddi Neale-Shankster, a 21 year old beautician from Coventry in England, suffered a fractured spine and is receiving treatment to drain fluid from her chest following the accident. She was told she may never walk again.
Maddi’s insurance company only paid out 10,000 baht, but a GoFundMe appeal raised nearly 3 million baht (£73,500) to cover the costs of Maddi’s assisted flight back to the UK.
Then, a fundraising event called “Rave for Maddi” raised a further 200,000 baht (£5000) to help Maddi on her long road to recovery.
