British martial arts champion fighting for his life after motorbike crash in Thailand

[webfact]

Christian Richardson, 32, has been living in Thailand for nine months and recently won his first Muay Thai bout (Image: Ben Lack)

 

Christian Richardson was lucky to survive when his motorbike was crushed by a pick up truck as he left a coffee shop at the start of the country's New Year festival

 

By Mark Branagan & Graeme Murray, News Reporter

 

A British martial arts champion is fighting for his life after a crash in Thailand.

 

Top boxer Christian Richardson, 32, from York, was lucky to survive when his motorbike was crushed by a pick up truck as he left a coffee shop on April 13, the start of the country's New Year festival.

 

Chris, who has been living in Thailand for nine months and recently won his first Muay Thai bout, suffered multiple injuries and broken bones.

 

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He was given emergency treatment at a hospital in Koh Samui, before being airlifted to Bangkok where he is currently undergoing further surgery.

 

In York, he had worked as picture framer for the family business, Gillygate Framing. His sister, Emmy Watson, said: “Miraculously, he didn’t die or have any brain or spinal injuries.”

 

Her brother is unable to get out of bed and is fighting a bad infection in his foot where he has a large open wound.

 

In the next few days, he is going to need both facial and eye surgery to repair a broken cheek bone and a bad orbital floor fracture.

 

Chris' family has launched a bid to raise £60,000 for his treatment 

(Image: Ben Lack)

 

As Chris was involved in the accident abroad, the treatment is costing him and his family thousands of pounds. The family has launched a bid to raise £60,000 for the treatment, and to get him home to the UK.

 

Full story: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-martial-arts-champion-fighting-26838936

 

-- © Copyright Mirror 2022-05-03

 

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[Gottfrid]

Unfortunate accident, and I really hope he will pull through. However, it makes me think it´s just another one without an insurance.

[scubascuba3]

family should pay and just take it out his inheritance

[flyingtlger]

I have read soooo many reports of farangs losing limbs or in the worst case, dying in Thailand.

The worst country with  outside of Africa is THAILAND!

 

https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/road-traffic-accidents/by-country/

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

24 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

I have read soooo many reports of farangs losing limbs or in the worst case, dying in Thailand.

The worst country with  outside of Africa is THAILAND!

 

https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/road-traffic-accidents/by-country/

 

 

Thailand is not to blame. 

 

It's the unqualified and unskilled users. 

 

Accountability.

 

Why make this pointless comment? 

 

 

 

[Orinoco]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Unfortunate accident, and I really hope he will pull through. However, it makes me think it´s just another one without an insurance.

Maybe he had insurance,

But we are in the riding a motor bike in a foreign country syndrome.

Valid Licence, no Alcohol, these factors sure can make a difference to any insurance clam.

Who knows, maybe a few more details will come in the coming days.

Hope he recovers quickly.

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Orinoco

[Gottfrid]

11 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thailand is not to blame. 

 

It's the unqualified and unskilled users. 

 

Accountability.

 

Why make this pointless comment? 

 

 

 

Yeah, you are right there. Can also be hard to find an insurance that actually covers motorcycle driving in Thailand at all.

[ezzra]

Riding a motorcycle in Thailand is akin to Russian roulette, if you spin the drum enough times your luck eventually will run out, travel insurance could have helped a lot but with no licence and other factors and the length of say that would be helpful in his case...

Edited May 2, 2022 by ezzra

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

6 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Riding a motorcycle in Thailand is akin to Russian roulette, if you spin the drum enough times your luck will run out, travel insurance could have helped a lot but with no licence and other factors and the length of say that would be helpful in his case...

Nearly 10 years in Thailand, and I've always let the wife do the driving. She's been happy to. First on a motorcycle, now in our car. As a female they drive more cautiously than us blokes would, and as a Thai they're a lot more familiar with how their countrymen move around on the road, their sudden lane changes or pulling out from being stopped, that I wouldn't have caught. I remember a thread on here once about how "unmanly" it was to be seen riding pillion with a chick at the helm, heh well, I'm more a fan of staying in one piece.

[morrobay]

The report says he was struck as he was leaving the restaurant. One possibility is that he drove into the  path of the pickup. Or the pickup drove into him as he was leaving. Any report on the facts ???

[JayClay]

8 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

As a female they drive more cautiously than us blokes would

You've been living here 10 years and you really believe that the average female Thai rider/driver drives more cautious than you?

 

Either you've lived a very sheltered existence in those last 10 years, or your personal road skills leave a lot to be desired.

[Pmbkk]

22 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Riding a motorcycle in Thailand is akin to Russian roulette, if you spin the drum enough times your luck eventually will run out, travel insurance could have helped a lot but with no licence and other factors and the length of say that would be helpful in his case...

 

A gun has say 6 or 7 bullets usually - you're telling me that's all I have before I'm dead. I must be really lucky.

 

Maybe over dramatizing again ???? 

[Orinoco]

3 minutes ago, JayClay said:

You've been living here 10 years and you really believe that the average female Thai rider/driver drives more cautious than you?

I did hear that the first Thai astronaut will be female.

Hello Sexy Martian. 

[jonclark]

If he was hit by the pick up...doesn't the pick up have insurance?  If I hit and injure someone with my car, my  insurance pays I think 500k to cover resulting medical bills for any third injury. Third party injury is normally the most basic of all insurances for cars. 

[RichardColeman]

Still not to worry, hopefully they can use the Thailand entry fee soon to pay for his hospital care ! (yeah, me neither)

[jacko45k]

31 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Nearly 10 years in Thailand, and I've always let the wife do the driving. She's been happy to. First on a motorcycle, now in our car. As a female they drive more cautiously than us blokes would, and as a Thai they're a lot more familiar with how their countrymen move around on the road, their sudden lane changes or pulling out from being stopped, that I wouldn't have caught. I remember a thread on here once about how "unmanly" it was to be seen riding pillion with a chick at the helm, heh well, I'm more a fan of staying in one piece.

I see many Thai females on the front of a small scooter with a big heavy falang on the back...it  don't look safer to me! And that Thai lady will drive as a Thai, we just know that is going to be dangerous. 

My Mrs is OK in the truck, but I don't watch what is going on because it puts me on edge. 

[MadMuhammad]

26 minutes ago, jonclark said:

If he was hit by the pick up...doesn't the pick up have insurance?  If I hit and injure someone with my car, my  insurance pays I think 500k to cover resulting medical bills for any third injury. Third party injury is normally the most basic of all insurances for cars. 

I’m guessing even if the insurance company is paying something like 500K wouldn’t have gone too far, especially with an airlift 

[KhaoYai]

47 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, you are right there. Can also be hard to find an insurance that actually covers motorcycle driving in Thailand at all.

There is no problem with getting insurance for bikes per se. For someone living in Thailand, most (all?) 1st class policies have emergency medical cover. There is a problem with the level of that cover with most policies I've seen but I was informed by a member here that stand alone accident insurance that covers motorcyles is available - I think the company was AXA.

 

If you mean travel insurance - I was surprised to see that my annual travel insurance (£15 million emergency medical cover) from All Clear (UK) actually covers bikes as long as you have a licence to ride one. However, most travel insurance covers a limited amount of days per trip - mine's 45 max per trip so this guy would not be covered.  I'm not even sure that travel insurance is available that would cover someone who's been away 9 months and if it is, its going to be very expensive.

[Orinoco]

32 minutes ago, jonclark said:

If he was hit by the pick up...doesn't the pick up have insurance?  If I hit and injure someone with my car, my  insurance pays I think 500k to cover resulting medical bills for any third injury. Third party injury is normally the most basic of all insurances for cars. 

Maybe only government insurance, about 50k 

i think. 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Orinoco

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thailand is not to blame. 

 

It's the unqualified and unskilled users. 

 

Accountability.

 

Why make this pointless comment? 

That is only partly true.

In Thailand is little to no enforcement of many (traffic) rules. When people drive bad in other countries they often have to pay a lot of money. They don't want to pay a lot of money so they learn and drive more according to the rules.

In Thailand people break the rules. And they learn there are no consequences. And then they break the rules more often etc.

[Brayka]

I really don’t understand why people don’t have a good insurance. If you don’t have the money stay home or go elsewhere. Everyone (almost half the world or more)knows how dangerous the roads and irresponsibly the drivers are.. I feel sorry for that guy and hope he will recover …. 

[ttrd]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, you are right there. Can also be hard to find an insurance that actually covers motorcycle driving in Thailand at all.

Its not that hard  - the challenge is that if you dont have a valid driving license in your homecountry for the vehicle you are going to drive abroad then you are not covered. Also can lack of safety equip such as helmet reduce the coverage. It may be useful to have familiarized yourself with the insurance terms and conditions before traveling. The sad truth is that most people do it after the accident has happened ...

[PomPolo]

I just do not get this, I feel really sorry for the dude he must be in a world of pain obviously, but why do we see this time and time again someones family launching an appeal for money on 'fund my unfunded uninsured families holiday.com'

Travel Insurance is meant for a purpose then families don't need to beg if god forbid disaster happens whatever the circumstances.

I will not be donating, harsh I know but as a boy scout you should always be prepared nobody is invincible.

Same story and same responses I am seeing.

[hotchilli]

9 months in the country so any initial travel insurance might have expired.

If the accident was his fault then the bill will be his to fund.

If the pick-up driver was found guilty then hopes are his insurance should fund it, if he had any.

But as they are trying to raise a fund it sounds like his bad luck.

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 The family has launched a bid to raise £60,000 for the treatment, and to get him home to the UK.

Wonder if they decoded not to sell or remortgage the house first ? 

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thailand is not to blame. 

 

It's the unqualified and unskilled users. 

 

Accountability.

 

Why make this pointless comment? 

 

 

 

Yes, the first thing tourist do when they come here is let their hair down and do things that they never done before. It's sad he got into a accident but we have good doctors here as long as you don't need brain surgery.

[Henryford]

Another one with no insurance, and probably no helmet.

[Swampy999]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thailand is not to blame. 

 

It's the unqualified and unskilled users. 

 

Accountability.

 

Why make this pointless comment? 

 

 

 

It is you that has made the pointless comment, The policing of Thailand's roads is basically non existent hence the extremely high amount of accidents and deaths, yes Thailand is to blame.

[XJPSX]

Why is it when these people have injuries they cry to the public.

Do not come here unless you have insurance and if your insurance does not cover motorbike accidents (as mine doesn’t) then don’t get on one.

It’s called being accountable for yourself.

Edited May 3, 2022 by XJPSX

[RandiRona]

I am surprised what people dont do in their own country like driving flimsy bikes would do it here like they are born to do it. Driving Bike here is most deadly in case of accidents. Wish him a speedy recovery!