Irish footballer fights for his life after bike crash in Thailand

[webfact]

An Irish footballer from Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, is battling for his life after a catastrophic cycling accident in Thailand. The horrific crash on Saturday, July 13, left the Tramore Athletic Football Club goalkeeper with severe injuries, prompting an outpouring of support that has raised over 46,000 euros (around 1 million baht) in just hours.

 

Rushed to Phuket Hospital, the Irishman, David Horgan’s condition was dire. Doctors discovered extensive facial and cranial damage, including a brain bleed, a deep forehead gash, multiple broken teeth, and a series of major fractures. The GoFundMe page, set up to assist with his mounting medical bills, paints a grim picture.

 

A long-standing figure in Cork’s soccer community, Horgan has been with Tramore since childhood. His club, devastated by the news, issued a heartfelt plea:

 

“We are reaching out to all of our members past and present, the local community in Douglas, Turners Cross and beyond, and the wider Cork sporting community. Our senior goalkeeper David Horgan was involved in a single-person bike accident over the weekend in Thailand.”

The club’s statement reflects the widespread shock and urgency felt across Cork, reported Sunday World.

 

The GoFundMe page further underscores the gravity of the situation:

“The medical expenses are mounting quickly, and we kindly ask for your help to ensure that David receives the best possible care. David is a beloved friend, family member, teammate, boyfriend, and colleague. Known for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering spirit, we are devastated by this accident and are doing everything we can to support him during this incredibly challenging time.”

 

In related news, a lifelong Doncaster Rovers devotee met a devastating end in Thailand, but his family is rallying for a heartfelt homage – with Wembley dreams in their sights. The family of a die-hard fan who tragically perished in a bike crash horror abroad is now fervently hoping for a Wembley win as the ultimate tribute.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Sunday World

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-19

 

- Cigna offers a range of plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

An Irish footballer from Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, is battling for his life after a catastrophic cycling accident

 

The GoFundMe page, set up to assist with his mounting medical bills

Why do people come here uninsured? 

 

 

[hotchilli]

32 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why do people come here uninsured? 

 

 

Budget travelers.

[BerndD]

46.000 Euro = 1.800.000 Baht!

[Korat Kiwi]

With all those facial and cranial injuries,  I suspect he wasn't wearing a helmet let alone a quality one. 

 

Unfortunately if you come off, your head is always prone to serious damage when it contacts something. 

 

Luckily no one else was involved.  If he survives it's gonna be a long road to recovery. 

 

Be safe out there riders! 

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Budget travelers.

It's weird. 

 

I had a working visa for the UK in my 20's, travelled around US, UK and Europe, ended up in Thailand and Bali, always had insurance. 

 

I was always on a budget. 

 

 

I suppose it's the same people who own a car or house, don't have it insured, I could never do that. 

 

 

Probably the GoFundMe pages that encourage this behaviour. 

 

[norfolkandchance]

I was going to say. 'Cue No Insurance and Gofundme' comments but you beat me to it.

[Korat Kiwi]

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's weird. 

 

I had a working visa for the UK in my 20's, travelled around US, UK and Europe, ended up in Thailand and Bali, always had insurance. 

 

I was always on a budget. 

 

 

I suppose it's the same people who own a car or house, don't have it insured, I could never do that. 

 

I've always had some form of insurance too... sometimes only 3rd party to cover me if I damage an expensive vehicle. 

 

Luckily I've never had to claim.

[cardinalblue]

article quite incomplete about accident details.....

[Sig]

Sad...
Also, sad that there is no report on helmet usage. They should say, one way or the other.
Wear your helmet everyone!!!
Preferably a full face, good quality one!
Edit: I stand corrected (see below - next post). Apparently he was on a bicycle, so it would be a bit weird to be wearing a full face helmet. I still wonder if he was wearing a helmet (bicycling helmet). A deep gash on the forehead makes me think not. Either way, the outcome for this guy is still sad....

[SAFETY FIRST]

4 minutes ago, Sig said:

Wear your helmet everyone!!!
Preferably a full face, good quality one!

The article says he was cycling. 

 

I expect it was a bicycle. 

 

[Homburg]

49 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why do people come here uninsured? 

 

 

Because there are always other people who will pay their medical bills - GoFundMe etc.. 

[Rimmer]

A rather nasty troll post has been removed

[Sig]

5 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

The article says he was cycling. 

 

I expect it was a bicycle. 

 

Thanks for that!
Yeah, it would be a bit odd to be wearing a full faced helmet, riding a bicycle. I think the title put my mind into motorcycle mode, since it said "bike crash" and in the article it said "bike accident". I completely missed where it said "cycling". I didn't read the bit below the pic, as I figured it was just some sort of description of the pic and him being a footballer....
Knowing that "bike" can be ambiguous, journalists would do better to use the word "bicycle" or "motorcycle" and avoid colloquial terms like "bike".

 

[cnx101]

13 minutes ago, Sig said:

Sad...
Also, sad that there is no report on helmet usage. They should say, one way or the other.
Wear your helmet everyone!!!
Preferably a full face, good quality one!

It says cycling so a bicycle not motorcycle 

[SAFETY FIRST]

4 minutes ago, Sig said:

Thanks for that!
Yeah, it would be a bit odd to be wearing a full faced helmet, riding a bicycle. I think the title put my mind into motorcycle mode, since it said "bike crash" and in the article it said "bike accident". I completely missed where it said "cycling". I didn't read the bit below the pic, as I figured it was just some sort of description of the pic and him being a footballer....
Knowing that "bike" can be ambiguous, journalists would do better to use the word "bicycle" or "motorcycle" and avoid colloquial terms like "bike".

 

I'm with you mate. 

 

I feel slightly naked riding the motorbike without a helmet and glasses. 

 

 

[newbee2022]

I wish him all the best, though brain injuries might take a very long way to recover.

I'm kind of shocked he has no travel/health insurance as a professional footballer.🙏

[john donson]

people don't read... who wears a full face bike helmet for a bicycle ?  you need insurance too ?

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

26 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

The article says he was cycling. 

 

I expect it was a bicycle. 

 

 

Actually, it does not.

The article states a bike accident.

I have always referred to motosai and motorcycles as....BIKE/BIKES.

 

For example:  A Bike Gang

 

Do you think that desperate Bike Gangs ride around on bicycles???

 

BIKES should be banned in Thailand.

Bicycles should be encouraged.

 

BIKES without mufflers should be compressed into CUBES, using car crushing machines.

 

(Oh NO.  The guy was cycling.  So then, it was a bicycle he was on, and not a BIKE.  What a true tragedy for the guy!)

 

[Sig]

9 minutes ago, cnx101 said:

It says cycling so a bicycle not motorcycle 

Yes, was already corrected by another and I updated my post. But thanks for chiming in 🙂

[Sig]

8 minutes ago, john donson said:

people don't read... who wears a full face bike helmet for a bicycle ?  you need insurance too ?

 

 

I read two times - "bike" an ambiguous term. And since motorcycle accidents are the extremely commonly reported sorts of "bike" accidents here, I did jump to that conclusion. I didn't read the caption for the picture, since normally that isn't where vital information for understanding an article is normally put. And of course that's the only place where one could get the understanding that he was riding a bicycle.
People read, you just don't give grace to people who might miss one word, especially one in an adjunct part of a piece....
I've also already been given a decently framed correction and edited my comment. No need for unreasonable comments from the peanut gallery.

[Presto]

31 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

article quite incomplete about accident details.....

'Single person accident', so I assume he crashed by himself, hit his head, and as I well know, your memory is gone for a certain amount of time. So he probably can't tell what happened.

Could have been a pothole, a soi dog, front fork of the bike broke, anything really.

[Sig]

9 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Actually, it does not.

The article states a bike accident.

I have always referred to motosai and motorcycles as....BIKE/BIKES.

 

For example:  A Bike Gang

 

Do you think that desperate Bike Gangs ride around on bicycles???

 

BIKES should be banned in Thailand.

Bicycles should be encouraged.

 

BIKES without mufflers should be compressed into CUBES, using car crushing machines.

 

 

It actually does say that he was "cycling", thus one can deduce that he was highly likely to be on a bicycle. But I made the same mistake and this guy was correcting me. I didn't read the caption to the photo, which is the only place in the article that gives you a clue that it was not a motorcycle accident. I'm guessing you didn't read that part either. Normally photo captions aren't the only place a writer would put vital information to understand an article.... Also, the term "bike" shouldn't be used unless the context is clear as to whether it is referring to a motorcycle or a bicycle. In this case, the context was not clear, since a photo caption would not be considered as a part of the text, but only an adjunct to it.

[MrPhysio]

People who travel can obtain medical travel insurance and expats can obtain other types of insurance.

However, if you have ever researched insurance companies, false advertising, money grabbing techniques and every excuse under the sun and moon not to pay out, you will understand why the resistance.

 

i research the small print and verified complaints, have been a health professional and seen people being stranded by insurers despite years of policy payments, and have personally experienced the same problems.

this includes the major insurers as well as shonky smaller insurers.

 

So, if you have a major accident, cannot fight your own case due to injury, have paid out for years and thrown your money away plus have to then fund yourself, you will have part of the answer.

Of course, I suggest doing your own research - as some simply take risks 

 

Insurance company loss adjusters and underwriters pay out if forced or to keep investigators away to stop being liable, so there are examples of good results.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

12 minutes ago, Sig said:

It actually does say that he was "cycling", thus one can deduce that he was highly likely to be on a bicycle. But I made the same mistake and this guy was correcting me. I didn't read the caption to the photo, which is the only place in the article that gives you a clue that it was not a motorcycle accident. I'm guessing you didn't read that part either. Normally photo captions aren't the only place a writer would put vital information to understand an article.... Also, the term "bike" shouldn't be used unless the context is clear as to whether it is referring to a motorcycle or a bicycle. In this case, the context was not clear, since a photo caption would not be considered as a part of the text, but only an adjunct to it.

 

Yes.

Correct.

I did not see the clarification until after posting a comment.

We need many more places to ride bicycles which are safe, and this includes making the bicycle paths safe to ride on.

Here in Thailand, anything on wheels is a risk to life and limb.

 

Anyway, throughout the original article, Puntid keeps referring to a "bike".

So, when she studied translation, she forgot to study this important point.

 

 

RE AMBIGUITY:

When engaging in translation, ambiguity should be avoided, at all cost.

First rule of professional translation.

 

 

[rattlesnake]

24 minutes ago, john donson said:

people don't read... who wears a full face bike helmet for a bicycle ?  you need insurance too ?

 

 

It's a good idea to wear a full-face on a bicycle, almost half of impacts are around the chin and face area.

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why do people come here uninsured? 

 

 

Some insurance companies do not cover motor cycle riding accidents, and many do not realise that, especially if they do not hold a MC licence in their country or an international permit to ride/drive.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why do people come here uninsured? 

 

 

Stupidity?

 

If they can afford the flight they can afford insurance.

[Jimjim1]

50 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Budget travelers.

And the implications of the negligence and don’t give a s - - t attitude of these people greatly affects us all.

It is time for airlines to check that travellers have the appropriate travel insurance before letting them on the plane, they check passports for blemishes etc etc so a simple letter from one’s insurance company outlining the level of cover is all that is required for onward travel.

These irresponsible people think nothing of spending a large amount of money on beer of an evening but will not spend as little as £70 on travel insurance.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Some insurance companies do not cover motor cycle riding accidents, and many do not realise that, especially if they do not hold a MC licence in their country or an international permit to ride/drive.

 

The OP doesn't say anything about a motorcycle. It says cycle.

It really needs confirmation if it was a bicycle or a m'bike.

 

M'bikes are not big in Ireland, so I doubt he had a m'bike license, and if he was on one likely the insurance ( if he had any ) void.