Canadian crash victim waiting for emergency supply of blood platelets

PHUKET: An emergency supply of blood platelets is being flown in to Phuket today to help save the life of a Canadian motorcycle crash victim.

The single unit of platelets is scheduled to arrive at midday so that doctors at Bangkok Hospital Phuket can perform a second round of surgery on David Lee Connelly, 40, who was critically injured in a collision with a 10-wheel truck on Friday (story here).

“Mr Lee, whose blood type is A-negative, is now waiting to be operated on. The platelets were supplied by the Thai Red Cross Society in Bangkok,” said Pornthip Rattajak, director of the Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC).

“The hospital does not require any more blood for the patient. However, the PRBC no longer has any A-negative blood in stock, so any additional donations of A-negative blood are welcome, as well as donations from other blood types,” said Ms Pornthip.

Blood donations can be made at the PRBC on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm; Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30am-8pm; and Saturday and Sunday, 9am-3pm.

Donations can also made at Vachira Phuket Hospital at the following times: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8:30am-3pm.

— Chutharat Plerin