Thai mum’s plea for aid after daughter’s car crash in Taiwan

A Thai mother is seeking help from the Government of Thailand after her daughter was seriously injured in a car accident in Taiwan. She has received no assistance from the Taiwanese authorities or the driver’s family.

The mother contacted the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, saying her daughter was in hospital in Taiwan following a car accident on February 7, but she cannot afford to pay for her treatment. The mother added that her daughter’s friend, who was at the hospital waiting for treatment, died from her injuries a few days ago.

The mother explained that she received a phone call from the hospital in Taiwan that her daughter and her friend were in intensive care following the car accident. A Taiwanese car driver was severely injured and remains unconscious. Details of the cause and location of the accident were not given in the report.

The mother went on to explain that she later contracted her daughter and learned that she was transferred from the ICU to the ward. However, she did not receive any further treatment or needed surgery because she could not afford the treatment fees.

Mono 29 reported that the woman has a broken hip, back and neck. She is unable to move and has to lie face up all the time. She wants to return to Thailand for treatment in her home country.

The daughter informed her mother that treatment in Taiwan would cost 2,500 baht per day. Unfortunately, her friend’s condition deteriorated, and she tragically succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

Seeking assistance from the embassy, the family discovered they needed to pay 200,000 baht to return to Thailand, in addition to covering the hospital operation expenses. Transporting the friend’s body back to Thailand also posed challenges, with costs exceeding 500,000 baht.

The mother mentioned that the Taiwanese driver’s family had reached out, promising to compensate for the losses. However, she now finds herself unable to contact them.

The founder of Saimai Survive, Ekkaphop Lueangprasert, told the media that he would report the matter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that the woman could be treated until she was ready to return.