A British traveller was left facing medical costs of around GBP23,000 after suffering serious injuries in a motorbike crash just six days into a planned two-month trip to Thailand. Jude O’Connor required urgent surgery after another rider reportedly pulled out in front of him, throwing him into a parked car.
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Jude suffered a broken shoulder, broken arm, broken nose and a shattered elbow in the crash, which happened in March. He was taken to hospital and told he urgently needed surgery, but said his insurance company later refused to cover the costs.
“I was involved in a serious motorbike accident,” Jude said. “Another bike pulled out on me, throwing me into a parked car. I was taken to hospital and told I urgently needed surgery.”
He said there were delays while waiting for the insurer to respond, before he was informed the policy would not cover the claim because of exclusions he had not been aware of. Jude believed his travel insurance and International Driving Permit would cover him while riding in Thailand.
Jude was riding a 125cc motorbike, which he described as the “smallest commonly available” in Thailand. However, his insurance policy only covered motorbikes up to 50cc, meaning he had to pay privately for surgery and treatment.
“This left us with no choice but to go ahead with essential surgery privately,” he said. “I spent nearly two weeks in hospital in Thailand with my parents, having to fly out to bring me home.”
Jude returned to the UK in April after what he described as a difficult process involving a Fit-To-Fly form and surgeon approval. Since returning home, he has undergone further reconstructive surgery and now faces up to a year of physiotherapy.
The financial impact has also placed significant pressure on his family. Jude said his parents had to borrow money to cover the medical costs. “The total cost of everything has been around GBP23,000 which my parents have had to borrow, putting a huge financial strain on my family,” he said.
Jude launched a GoFundMe page on 23 April with a target of GBP17,500 to help repay the costs. He said he felt “incredibly guilty” about the burden placed on his family and hoped the fundraiser would ease some of the pressure.
He also said he wanted his experience to serve as a warning to other travellers to carefully check the details of their insurance policies before riding motorbikes abroad. The Mirror reported that motorbike accidents remain a major safety issue in Thailand, with between 14,000 and 15,000 motorbike-related deaths recorded annually according to recent statistics.
Pictures courtesy of The Mirror
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 16 May 2026