An Australian man is in a coma in a Bangkok intensive care unit following an accident in Thailand, with his family saying his medical bills have already exceeded $135,000.
Sydney model and Copini Beauty co-founder Casey James said her father had undergone multiple emergency brain operations and had spent 10 days in the ICU as of Sunday, 23 August.
James, 28, said she received a call from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs telling her that her father had been involved in an accident and was in a Bangkok ICU.
"Within two hours, my husband and I were on a flight to Thailand," she wrote on Instagram.
She gave not further details of the accident, but did state that her father had previously survived a serious motorcycle crash in March 2025, pulling through, after the hospital had described his injuries as life threatening.
Family faces uncertain wait in Bangkok
James said the extent of her father's future needs was not yet known, but described him as "one hell of a fighter".
"My dad has been in a coma for ten days and counting. What his future looks like is unknown," she wrote.
She added that her mother's 57th birthday fell on the day of her post, saying she was sitting in the ICU while remembering her mother, who had died from cancer.
James urged others to hold loved ones close, saying life could change "in a blink of an eye".
ICU and medical evacuation costs mount
A GoFundMe appeal started by James's cousin, Bridgette Pereira, is seeking $250,000 to help cover the man's treatment. It had received well over $36,000 in donations by Sunday.
In a note on the fundraising page, James said more than $135,000 had already been incurred for emergency brain surgery and continuing ICU care.
"The cost of keeping Dad in the ICU is approximately $50,000 per week, and the cost of transporting him safely home to Australia is expected to be around $500,000," she wrote.
Those sums do not include long-term care and rehabilitation expected after he returns to Australia. James said the family had been told he was likely to need ongoing medical support, potentially for life.
A warning over medical cover in Thailand
The case underlines the potentially substantial cost of emergency private hospital treatment and medical evacuation for foreign visitors and residents in Thailand. James has not stated whether her father held travel or health insurance.
Foreigners arranging travel insurance should check the policy's cover for emergency treatment, intensive care, pre-existing conditions and repatriation, as medical evacuation can involve specialist staff and equipment.
Pictures courtesy of Daily Mall
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24 August 2026
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