Uninsured British man on way to extend his visa loses leg after horrific motorbike accident

 

 

A young British man has suffered life changing injuries and is in a serious condition in hospital following an horrific motorbike accident in Thailand.

 

Harry George Buster Cross was travelling to Kanchanaburi immigration office on Monday morning to extend his tourist visa when the Yamaha motorbike he was riding collided with a sugar cane truck that pulled out in front of him.

 

Harry, who was wearing a helmet and safety gear, suffered catastrophic injuries, including his right leg being degloved, after being dragged by the truck for more than 15 metres.

 

Harry, 29 from London, was rushed to hospital where doctors discovered he had also suffered a shattered pelvis, multiple breaks to his leg and three broken ribs, in addition to the degloved leg.

 

Due to the severity of his injuries, Harry was rushed into surgery but doctors were unable to save his leg and it had to be amputated above the knee. He remains in ICU.

 

The motorbike Harry was riding was legally registered and because of this the insurance has been able to pay a small amount towards his treatment.

 

However Harry, who is in Thailand after spending the last 5 months travelling across Southeast Asia, does not have any travel or medical insurance to pay for further treatment.

 

Furthermore, the driver of the truck has told police that he was not at fault so the case is set to go to Thai court, which could take months or even years before an outcome is determined.

 

To help Harry, his friends have set up a Go Fund Me page to try and raise funds towards his treatment.

 

“Harry is now in the ICU, he is conscience but obviously in a lot of pain. He has a strong will, knows he has lost his leg, but says "at least I am alive", the page reads.

 

Harry remains in Thanakan Hospital in Kanchanaburi but needs to be transferred to a hospital in another province which has doctors who are able to rebuild his shattered pelvis.  

 

After interviewing him in hospital immigration have given Harry a 3 month extension to his visa.

 

As well as financial help, Harry is also in requires platelet transfusions and is in need of donations of type O blood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-3-21

No insurance.

Asking for trouble.

Too many travel without insurance.

Crowd-funding is not the solution.

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

who is in Thailand after spending the last 5 months travelling across Southeast Asia, does not have any travel or medical insurance

Although I have sympathy for somebody in such a condition, after the tragic accident, to organise such a lengthy trip, involving numerous countries, with no travel OR medical insurance, is irresponsible, and quite frankly, ludicrous. 

16 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Furthermore, the driver of the truck has told police that he was not at fault so the case is set to go to Thai court, which could take months or even years before an outcome is determined.

 

The accident investigation should reveal who was at fault, if anyone. I doubt it would take an expert very long to determine if anyone is at blame here.

 

They can argue about liability in the courts later.

 

Second one in 3 days....(Hua Hin 3 days ago).

Both British

Both Uninsured

Both expecting someone else to pick up the bill

 

 

34 minutes ago, Pattaya28 said:

No insurance.

Asking for trouble.

Too many travel without insurance.

Crowd-funding is not the solution.

There is a solution. Do not ride a motorbike in Thailand. Thailand has the highest death rate in the WORLD for motorcycle deaths.

No matter how long you have been here , no matter how how much insurance you have, or as good a driver as you might be the stupid driver is very close by and he/she couldn't care less about you. He/she will get you in the end. Just a matter of time. 

It may help if you have a quality selection of amulets hanging around you neck.

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by Cadbury

Oh my God. What a terrible tragedy, just 29 years old with his whole life completely ruined. Just what attracts them to Thailand like flies to shit?

No insurance coverage...this twins up a bit to often with a go-fund-me page ...

 

As often mentioned, it is just a matter of time, before new regulations will spurge towards all tourists/travellers/expats arriving in Thailand who will be required, at the best to show proof of proper insurance in their country.....and at the worst, will be required to shell out more money and contract insurance on arrival (with all the probable scams) in Thailand during their stay, despite having all the necessary coverage contracted with their homeland insurances....thanks to the careless and irresponsable few, who will make regulations harsher for all.....

 

All the best to the poor chap for a prompt recovery.

Please please make it compulsory for anyone entering Thailand to have a travel/medical insurance.

We will still have the terrible accidents, but at least the victims and their families will not have to worry about the bill...

5 minutes ago, saakura said:

Oh my God. What a terrible tragedy, just 29 years old with his whole life completely ruined. Just what attracts them to Thailand like flies to shit?

I wouldn't say his life is ruined, he lost a leg and should recover.

 

What attracts who to Thailand, 'the uninsured' ?

 

It probably wouldn't have made much difference if he did have insurance, most won't cover motorbikes and the temporary international licenses are only valid for 90 days.

 

I think it's time to require Travel Medical insurance for boarding any international flight.  These people should not be allowed to travel and they should not be trying to get sympathetic donations when they get injured on crowdfunding websites.  

It's not that expensive to just insure yourself.  And foolish not to insure yourself.

If your not insured, you shouldn't be allowed to travel.

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by survivalblue

14 minutes ago, JOC said:

Second one in 3 days....(Hua Hin 3 days ago).

Both British

Both Uninsured

Both expecting someone else to pick up the bill

 

 

I hope they both recover and come on Thaivisa and give you a reply!

"If you have nothing nice to say it's probably best to say nothing at all" my old p.e teacher used to say to me when I booed at football practice.

5 minutes ago, JOC said:

Please please make it compulsory for anyone entering Thailand to have a travel/medical insurance.

We will still have the terrible accidents, but at least the victims and their families will not have to worry about the bill...

Those insurancecompanies are also a bunch of cheaters...i just found out that the one i had for 12 years was double the price of another one which even offered more.

Also they make it a secret how long you're insured, for some you have to come back after 6 months or you're uninsured...after coming back you can leave again the next day for 6 months.

 

It's time the UK stops those dirty and stupid practises..just announce which one is the best and cheapest for a whole year nonstop travelling so it's easy for the kids to choose it.

 

For under 100 euro a year you can be insured nonstop..if you want extra's it costs more.

100 euro is a fragment of his total budget i guess, so it's really dumb to not take it.

 

But also the sugarcanetrucks that i've seen at work in thailand are complete idiots...they don't give a duck about anybody else on the roads...they let anybody drive those things (young kids as well), overload them, loose load all the time, don't follow any rules...very selfish people they are..

 

I hope the boy recovers fast, what a tragedy.

9 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I wouldn't say his life is ruined, he lost a leg and should recover.

 

What attracts who to Thailand, 'the uninsured' ?

 

It probably wouldn't have made much difference if he did have insurance, most won't cover motorbikes and the temporary international licenses are only valid for 90 days.

 

no the international driverslicense is valid for 90 days, you have to do a borderrun and it's valid again for 90 days...isn't it?

 

That's whay they told me...well actually (in holland) they told me it's valid for a whole year, when i asked about that 90 day rule they couldn't answer me and had never heard of that strange rule.

 

Where can we read those rules on a official page?

The truck driver told police it was not his fault. Same old, same old.....Having no insurance is stupid anywhere you travel but in a country where virtually no-one has the balls to take responsibility for their actions it is potentially catastrophic.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

24 minutes ago, saakura said:

Oh my God. What a terrible tragedy, just 29 years old with his whole life completely ruined. Just what attracts them to Thailand like flies to shit?

His whole life is not ruined. His leg is.

My father lost his leg when he was 30 and still worked for the rest of his life, ended up as a factory manager.

Are all the competitors with artificial limbs etc competing in sport in the bracket of 'ruined lives'?

The sugar cane truck drivers are an absolute menace in that province

45 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

Although I have sympathy for somebody in such a condition, after the tragic accident, to organise such a lengthy trip, involving numerous countries, with no travel OR medical insurance, is irresponsible, and quite frankly, ludicrous. 

The 'it only happens to others' mentality.

11 minutes ago, Thian said:

no the international driverslicense is valid for 90 days, you have to do a borderrun and it's valid again for 90 days...isn't it?

 

That's whay they told me...well actually (in holland) they told me it's valid for a whole year, when i asked about that 90 day rule they couldn't answer me and had never heard of that strange rule.

 

Where can we read those rules on a official page?

Well mate i will try to answer about the international drivers permit.

First it is a permit, not a license.

Issued for 1 year, but Thailand only allows their use for 90 days.

Sugar cane trucks and cement mixer trucks - not sure which are the most dangerous. Give both a very wide berth!

37 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

There is a solution. Do not ride a motorbike in Thailand. Thailand has the highest death rate in the WORLD for motorcycle deaths.

No matter how long you have been here , no matter how how much insurance you have, or as good a driver as you might be the stupid driver is very close by and he/she couldn't care less about you. He/she will get you in the end. Just a matter of time. 

It may help if you have a quality selection of amulets hanging around you neck.

The grim reaper will get you in "just a matter of time", motorcycle riding or not. Wouldn't it be comical if a person took your advice, got off the motorcycle, only to be wiped out in a bus accident? You can actually influence how much risk you have a motorcycle. You can improve your odds. For example, if you're living in an area where sugar cane trucks pull out onto the road, be vigilant and keep the speed down. I have done a lot of miles on a motorcycle in a sugar cane farming area. They are quite bid and easy to see. Trucks always tend to feel they have the right of way over motorcycles and don't like to wait for them.

 

Gofundme fundraiser, is it a form of begging?

Or is it the only option?

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by Wilsonandson

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Harry George Buster Cross was travelling to Kanchanaburi immigration office on Monday morning to extend his tourist visa when the Yamaha motorbike he was riding collided with a sugar cane truck that pulled out in front of him.

alternate means....; minimize exposure to the road carnage; would anyone in their sane mind, given any alternatives , choose to play death with thai drivers

10 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Well mate i will try to answer about the international drivers permit.

First it is a permit, not a license.

Issued for 1 year, but Thailand only allows their use for 90 days.

I believe you are right Colin,after ninety days you are considered as living here and have to have a Thai DL.I am not sure it starts a new if you get another 90 days extension.Are you still considered a tourist because you left the country or are you a resident?Would be nice to find out.

When Harry met Somchai 

49 minutes ago, saakura said:

Oh my God. What a terrible tragedy, just 29 years old with his whole life completely ruined. Just what attracts them to Thailand like flies to shit?

 

life changing injuries certainly but by no means life ruining, it depends on the individual and the support they receive, which in the uk can be of an exceptionally high standard.

 

who are the 'them' you refer to?

notice how primitive the "paramedics" are.

 

possible spine injuries and rolling the patient around on the ground.

Family and friends back home start selling what ever assets he has. Take out loans for their beloved family member and friend. If family and friends will not support him why should a gofundme page be set up. Guess he is not loved  back home much. . 

Another subject along with van drivers with “brakes fail” that comes up with unfailing regularity.

i have three separate insurance companies for my Kawasaki 650 motorcycle.

 

basic state insurance. 680 baht.

a separate company to insure me and my bike. 17,000 baht.

and Bupa health insurance platinum level. 118,000 baht.

per year.

 

and yes Bupa covers bike accidents.