'We're asking for help to bring our boy home to Manchester so he's not alone as he fights for his life'

[webfact]

"We are in the depths of despair, looking at him and thinking 'there is no way that's our Jay'." (Image: Submitted)

 

"We are in the depths of despair, looking at him and thinking 'there is no way that's our Jay'."

 

By James Holt, Reporter

 

A mum has spoken of her anguish as her son fights for his life more than 5,000 miles from home following a horrific motorbike crash in Thailand. Dad-of-five Jay Bridgehouse, 32, from Stockport visited the south Asian country for the once in a lifetime trip to 'chase his dreams' and look for work before he was ploughed into by a pick up truck in the early hours of February 26.

 

His heartbroken family claims he was hit by a driver travelling at high speed while he was riding his motorbike with no helmet. Jay had forgotten to put the phone down to his girlfriend Naomi moments before, meaning she had to endure hearing the collision happen in real time.

 

Following the crash, Jay was immediately rushed to the Koh Samui International hospital in Thailand, where he remains in a critical condition.

 

He quickly underwent life-saving surgery due to suffering a severe bleed on his brain and has multiple fractures to his skull, face and body. Doctors had expected Jay to wake up within four to six hours following the emergency surgery but he slipped into a coma, with his family now sitting by his bedside 'praying for a miracle' and hoping he pulls through.

 

Full story: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mums-anguish-son-32-fighting-26434620

 

-- © Copyright Manchester Evening News 2023-03-11

 

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[steven100]

Very sad indeed.  Whens tourists jump on a motorbike in Thailand the safety aspect is compromised in most cases which poses a big risk of getting injured. Honestly,  it's just not worth it.

[John Drake]

Quote

"He is away with his girlfriend but had been out with some of the lads for a drink and told her he wouldn't be long until he was back. He put the phone in his pocket but the call hadn't ended, so she was saying 'hello, hello?'.

What can you say?

[VocalNeal]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

...riding his motorbike with no helmet. Jay had forgotten to put the phone down...

Sad but the above didn't help.????

[FritsSikkink]

Father of 5, no helmet, on the phone while driving after a couple of drinks.

Now the family begging for money.

Nuff said. 

[KannikaP]

Takes his UK girlfriend, Naomi, to Thailand, looking for work here leaving 5 kids in UK, does not make sense.

[Gaccha]

He's in a coma so the repatriation flight will be staggeringly expensive. Since you will have to be kept stable it will require intensive care. The cost will be about £300 per mile.

 

How much of this can the family raise...? Perhaps 10 miles...

[GinBoy2]

I don't want to rehash the usual travel insurance stuff, which is pretty relevant.

 

But in the article is states 'brain function is now minimal'

 

Does that mean he's essentially brain dead?

[Ralf001]

 

 

3 minutes ago, Gaccha said:

He's in a coma so the repatriation flight will be staggeringly expensive. Since you will have to be kept stable it will require intensive care. The cost will be about £300 per mile.

 

How much of this can the family raise...? Perhaps 10 miles...

Medi Vac estimate cost is £32,000 if you bother to read the article.

[Gaccha]

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Medi Vac estimate cost is £32,000 if you bother to read the article.

Yes I saw it and I disagree with it. That would be a fairly standard medical evac. This is far more of a big deal requiring a special plane with a doctor and a nurse and constant intensive care.

[norfolkandchance]

14 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Takes his UK girlfriend, Naomi, to Thailand, looking for work here leaving 5 kids in UK, does not make sense.

Kids maybe with their mother.

[John Drake]

These sort of stories so often seem to be about the British. Do other nationalities get in the same situation, in a hospital, unable to pay, and seeking to get home?  Or is it we just don't see stories in Chinese, Russian, or French language media? 

[milesinnz]

so he was chasing his dreams, looking for a job in Thailand, without a helmet - so where did his 5 children ever come into his plans ???

[BestB]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

His heartbroken family claims he was hit by a driver travelling at high speed while he was riding his motorbike with no helmet. Jay had forgotten to put the phone down to his girlfriend Naomi moments before, meaning she had to endure hearing the collision happen in real time.

Sad, but this means not only he was riding no helmet but was also on the phone.

 

Putting that aside, and no travel insurance, what i do not understand is why truck insurance is not paying?  Why police are not forcing truck owner to pay?

[Rimmer]

A couple of unnecessary troll posts in poor taste have been removed

[Zapitapi]

just sad

[brewsterbudgen]

1 minute ago, milesinnz said:

so he was chasing his dreams, looking for a job in Thailand, without a helmet - so where did his 5 children ever come into his plans ???

How is that relevant?  Presumably he's divorced or separated and his ex has custody of their children.  

 

You're all heart!!

 

[Liverpool Lou]

47 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Ahhh.

motorbike + no Helmet = The family begging for coin.

...and probably on the phone to his girlfriend returning from a night out "with the lads" as she heard the crash on the phone.

[mommysboy]

6 minutes ago, John Drake said:

These sort of stories so often seem to be about the British. Do other nationalities get in the same situation, in a hospital, unable to pay, and seeking to get home?  Or is it we just don't see stories in Chinese, Russian, or French language media? 

Yes other nationalities too. But don't let that stop you!

[tandor]

23 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Sad but the above didn't help.????

Jay appears to have forgotten to do a lot of important things..sorry for you, but it doesn't look at all good for you. There is no way you can be repatriated in your present condition

[GinBoy2]

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

These sort of stories so often seem to be about the British. Do other nationalities get in the same situation, in a hospital, unable to pay, and seeking to get home?  Or is it we just don't see stories in Chinese, Russian, or French language media? 

I think the Brits, especially the younger ones, with their NHS kinda forget that in most countries it's not a totally free system and there is a price to pay.

 

I feel so sorry for the family, but the tales of youngsters in Thailand, little reckless, in a country renown for terrible traffic accidents are so common, and the subsequent 'GoFundme' accounts someone needs to set up a serious ad campaign before these guys get on a plane to tell them the risks

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmmm….What can you say about these circumstances? Its appalling.

[Liverpool Lou]

25 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Takes his UK girlfriend, Naomi, to Thailand, looking for work here leaving 5 kids in UK, does not make sense.

Divorced?

[KannikaP]

9 minutes ago, BestB said:

Sad, but this means not only he was riding no helmet but was also on the phone.

 

Putting that aside, and no travel insurance, what i do not understand is why truck insurance is not paying?  Why police are not forcing truck owner to pay?

Because it wasn't his fault.

[Mad mick]

Enough of the bagging ! We've all done dumb things helmet drinks phone Girlfriend etc,. Sad story ?ploughed into by truck ???? thats A story in itself. Feel sad for his family kids back home etc,. what price to pay trust he gets through this?  

 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

Again sadly the dangers of NO ensuring you have adequate Insurance when on holiday to replaying itself out . More so when you delight in riding a motorbike . 

Saw that when I came here 20 years ago, will not ride a Motorcycle at all. 

Good luck with this , best wishes to the family by sorry little sympathy for the actions of your son . !

[Liverpool Lou]

8 minutes ago, BestB said:

what i do not understand is why truck insurance is not paying?  Why police are not forcing truck owner to pay?

Perhaps the family's secondhand version of events, designed solely to get money, isn't quite accurate and the other driver wasn't at fault.

[Keep Right]

Very sad indeed and I certainly wish him well but, maybe the news of this accident will prevent more foreigners from getting on a motorbike in Thailand and putting their life in severe danger. It seems like every week or more often you read about another life threatening motorbike accident. Only a fool rides a motorbike in Thailand. I have done it in the past and I admit, I was a stupid fool. It is only a matter of time, the odds will catch up to you.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

His heartbroken family claims he was hit by a driver travelling at high speed while he was riding his motorbike with no helmet.

So is there any proof of the claims or did he just crash because he was possibly intoxicated and talking on the phone while not paying attention to what he was doing.  Been looking for more information on the accident but for the life of me do not see it anywhere.  If there is proof of him being hit by a truck then where is that vehicle and driver? 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

5 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

I think the Brits, especially the younger ones, with their NHS kinda forget that in most countries it's not a totally free system and there is a price to pay.

 

I feel so sorry for the family, but the tales of youngsters in Thailand, little reckless, in a country renown for terrible traffic accidents are so common, and the subsequent 'GoFundme' accounts someone needs to set up a serious ad campaign before these guys get on a plane to tell them the risks

They do I am sure know he risks, but ego and lack of common-sense kicks in and here we are again , you can take a horse to water but you cannot make them drink, same as education requires some degree of intelligence to act sensibly `