A Perth tradie has been left fighting for his life after crashing his moped into a pole last weekend in a popular Thailand tourist spot.
Shane Ramsay, a 30-year-old carpenter from Clarkson, arrived on the popular holiday island on Friday to attend his friend’s wedding, in which he was a groomsman.
But things took a turn for the worse the following morning when the tradie was riding a scooter in Seminyak, where he seemingly lost control and smashed headfirst into a pole.
Reportedly suffering a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, severe brain damage and blood in his lungs, Ramsay was rushed to the ICU by paramedics, where he remains in a coma.
After racing to his side on the first flight into Bali, Shane’s distraught mother Catherine told 7news that doctors are yet to determine the full scale of Shane’s brain damage.
But while his friends and family are left waiting for news of Shane’s condition, Catherine says a lapse in travel insurance means the Ramsay’s are scrambling to come up with funds to cover his costly medical bills.
The family claim the emergency neurosurgery alone will run up a tab of $53,000 in addition to $9,000 per night for the hospital — plus the $150,000 price of an air ambulance. As it stands, the bill looks to end up in excess of a quarter of a million dollars before he is in front of an Australian doctor.
Catherine told reporters that she was even looking at selling her home to raise funds to support her son.
In the hopes of bringing costs down, Shane’s family and friends have started an online fundraising campaign.
“We just want to bring shane home as soon as possible to be closer to all his friends and family,” organiser Amyleigh Mitchell wrote.
So far, the campaign has raised $74,000 AUD, but it has a lofty goal of $750,000.
In the wake of the tragic accident, Catherine has now issued a plea to Australians in Bali, warning them to stay away from the popular mopeds.
“Don’t do it, it’s just too dangerous,” she said.
According to the Bangkok Post, nearly 75 per cent of traffic deaths in Thailand involve motorcyclists and other motorbike users, with Thailand’s roads generally considered to be some of the most dangerous in the world.
Have you got travel insurance?
But Shane isn’t the only Aussie choosing to travel uninsured. Recent research by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) uncovered an alarming trend amongst travellers who are choosing to ‘go it alone’ without financial protection.
In the survey of 1000 travellers, one in six Aussies (16 per cent) said they weren’t covered by any form of insurance on their last overseas trip, and more than half (60 per cent) under the age of 30 said they would consider travelling without insurance in the future.
Of those who did choose to insurance up, many were also reportedly ‘overconfident’ about their coverage and hadn’t properly read their policy documents.
ICA CEO Andrew Hall said these “concerning findings” were putting Aussies unnecessarily at risk for costly health and safety repercussions.
“Things we take for granted in Australia, such as the public health system, are not free or even available to you once you leave the country,” said Hall.
“Travel insurance is as important as your passport – it can provide valuable protection in the event of an unexpected event, such as a medical emergency, lost luggage, or flight cancellation.
“Personal responsibility plays a big part in your travel plans and it’s important to read the details of your policy, so you know you are covered.”
