Maimed Pilot In Phuket: 'i Will Fly Again'

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Maimed pilot in Phuket: 'I will fly again'

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Cathay Pacific pilot Scott McDonald hopes a prosthetic foot will enable him to resume his career.

PHUKET TOWN: -- Cathay Pacific airline pilot Scott McDonald is trying to put his life back together after his lower calf and foot were sliced off by a speeding motorbike in a freak accident in Phuket late last month.

As the American lay bleeding on the pavement, a passerby who witnessed the accident used the victim's cellphone to call for help – before pocketing the device and fleeing the scene.

Mr McDonald has undergone seven surgeries at Bangkok Hospital Phuket since the accident.

He is hoping a prosthetic calf and foot will allow him to resume his career and continue to indulge in his great love – golf.

The accident happened shortly after midnight on January 24.

Chicago-native McDonald, 43, was heading up Thepkrasattri Road towards his home at Yacht Haven when his cell phone rang.

He stopped his Harley Davidson Fatboy by the side of the road, just north of Blue Canyon Country Club.

Turning the parking light on and still straddling the bike, he answered the cellphone. As he suspected, it was his girlfriend Wan calling to ask him when he would return home.

He told Wan he would be home in ten minutes. "Just as I was saying that, wham. I got slammed from behind. I thought it was a car that hit me, it was so loud."

What hit the American was a speeding Honda Dream ridden by two Thai men. "I think it was going at at least 100kmh," Mr McDonald said.

His foot was sliced clean off above the ankle.

"I just remember being thrown and then crawling over as far left as I could on the road because I thought I was gonna get hit by a car now. And from there I don't really remember a lot. I was in shock," he said.

Wan was still listening, horrified, on the cellphone. "I heard screaming, 'Ah! Ah! Ah!'. Then quiet."

Mr McDonald's memories of the accident are hazy, though he can remember asking someone who rushed to the scene to call Wan.

After telling Wan where the accident scene was, that person disappeared – with Mr McDonald's cellphone in hand. It has not been returned.

By the time Wan arrived, Kusoldharm Foundation workers had already taken Mr McDonald to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where he continues to receive treatment.

He immediately faced the difficult decision of whether to have his foot, now infected, sown back on or surgically amputated above the existing wound.

He decided to follow doctors' recommendations, choosing amputation.

"The prosthetics they can make are very up to par these days," he said.

Scott's employers, Cathay Pacific, have been 'very, very supportive', he said.

"They told me just the first or second day afterwards, 'Remember your career is not over with Cathay Pacific'."

At the time of writing Mr McDonald, an eight year resident of Phuket, was due to have his leg sown up on February 4. Despite the loss of the foot, he said he still plans to go through with his plan to marry Wan.

The driver of the motorbike that hit Mr McDonald, and his passenger, are receiving treatment at Vachira Hospital Phuket.

Inspector Sarit Budnongsang of Tah Chat Chai Police said an investigation was underway to discover who was at fault.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-02-07

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[harleyclarkey]

Maimed pilot in Phuket: 'I will fly again'

He stopped his Harley Davidson Fatboy by the side of the road, just north of Blue Canyon Country Club.

Turning the parking light on and still straddling the bike, he answered the cellphone.

"I got slammed from behind. I thought it was a car that hit me, it was so loud."

What hit the American was a speeding Honda Dream ridden by two Thai men.

Inspector Sarit Budnongsang of Tah Chat Chai Police said an investigation was underway to discover who was at fault.

Yep...this impartial inspector will probably deduce that Scott pulled out in front of these two totally innocent decent Thai men.

Really sorry Scott to see what happened to you. I do hope all goes well for you and life can go on for you as before. Sincere wishes for a speedy recovery.

Your phone was robbed while you lay critically injured? Hard to believe such thoroughly sick individuals are around.

Edited February 7, 2010 by harleyclarkey

[ScubaBuddha]

Another reason why I will stop at an accident scene of it involves a farang. To help protect the victims belongings. Unfortunately you can't help Thai's even if you have emergency medical training or you get blamed for causing it or worsening their condition if you do help, then the family comes after you, as their is no good samaritan protection laws here.

Just unbelievable that someone would would steal his mobile in the middle of all this. A TIT moment!

[shawndoc]

Hey, its not all bad. At least they called for help before pocketing the phone.

And in all honesty, it might have just been a mistake. I know I've accidentally pocketed a friends phone before just out of habit. The person who stopped to call for help could have just been shaken up by witnessing the accident, and in the hurry to leave pocketed the phone out of habit.

[Samuian]

All the best and speedy recovery to Mr.McDonald!

What a freak accident!

[Felt 35]

And in all honesty, it might have just been a mistake. I know I've accidentally pocketed a friends phone before just out of habit. The person who stopped to call for help could have just been shaken up by witnessing the accident, and in the hurry to leave pocketed the phone out of habit.

Why should he/she leave?

[surangw]

Hey, its not all bad. At least they called for help before pocketing the phone.

And in all honesty, it might have just been a mistake. I know I've accidentally pocketed a friends phone before just out of habit. The person who stopped to call for help could have just been shaken up by witnessing the accident, and in the hurry to leave pocketed the phone out of habit.

anyone try calling the phone and asking for it back

gps tracking feature too much to ask in thailand?