Phuket Expat In I C U Following Motorbike Crash

[webfact]

Phuket expat in ICU following motorbike crash
Claire Connell


Cathy left, Stuart, and Stuart's mother Valerie and sister Louise.

PHUKET: -- Phuket resident Cathy Coles-Clark is unlikely to forget the moment she came across her husband, Stuart, lying on the road following a bad motorbike crash after he dodged a cat on the road.

Mr Clark, 37, was driving home on his motorbike from Ao Yon on April 2 around 9pm, around 10 minutes ahead of Cathy, who was following behind also on a motorbike.

A cat came out on the road and Mr Clark moved to avoid it, and then looked in his side mirror to check he had missed it. He then hit the concrete curb and his bike flipped and hit a metal fence.

He flew off and landed on his head, suffering multiple fractures to the top part of his spine. He is now in Vachira Hospital Phuket, unable to move his legs.

When Mrs Coles-Clark reached the scene, she found about 30 locals there and her husband lying on the road.

“I screamed. I threw my helmet on the ground and ran to him,” she said.

The ambulance came promptly and Mr Clark was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where he was put on a respirator.

The next day he was transferred to Vachira Hospital Phuket, where he remains in ICU, unable to move his legs and with limited movement in his arms.

Mr Clark had surgery on his spine on April 5 to secure the fractures.

“Every day he’s been making progress with movement, and the movement he’s got back in his arms has been very, very positive,” his wife said.

“He has sensation in his upper arms, and he can lift his arms. He has no feeling in his legs, and also a collapsed lung. The surgeon said he is unable to make an accurate prognosis for a least six months.”

He has a tracheotomy so is able to mouth words to his wife, and also to his mother Valerie and sister Louise, who travelled to Phuket when they heard of the crash.

Mr Clark is covered by insurance. He has AIA accident insurance, which covered up to B100,000, all of which was used up during his stay at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

He is also covered by social insurance by his work (he is the general manager of Coral Seekers), which will cover at least three months of care.

At the moment he is not having to pay any money to stay in ICU, and so far has only paid B55,000 to cover specialist surgical equipment shipped from Bangkok for his operation.

Mrs Coles-Clark, an English teacher, credits her husband’s full face helmet, which he bought in the United Kingdom, for “absolutely” saving his life.

“There’s no doubt about it – whether it saved his life, as in he’s still alive, or saved it as in he doesn’t have brain damage. I want to raise awareness about the necessity of wearing a helmet.”

To help with this, well known Thai singer Singto Numchok is helping to organise a benefit concert in Phuket to help raise awareness and support Mr Clark.

Singto is a good friend of the couple – who have lived in Phuket for seven years since moving from the United Kingdom – and even played at their wedding. The singer is well known in Phuket circles and when his wife found out about Mr Clark, he wanted to help.

He is taking time out from touring to fly to Phuket today to visit Mr Clark in hospital.

Singto, Mrs Coles-Clark and other friends are organising the concert, but details are yet to be confirmed. It will be held in May in Phuket.

“The support has been phenomenal,” Mrs Coles-Clark said.

“I want to thank everyone who has been supporting us, whether it has been making phone calls, bringing food, or offering rides.

“[stuart’s] been so strong, and I’m so proud of him.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-expat-in-icu-following-motorbike-crash-38661.php


-- Phuket News 2013-04-15

[Amusements]

Thumbs up for wearing a decent helmet!

Get well soon.

[Valentine]

Amazing he can still put on a good smile but being positive can certainly help your physical health. I wish him well.

[Equalizer]

Got to get me some insurance me thinks!!!!

[thhMan]

Wish him well...

[Frank James]

For an event that happens daily in Thailand, it seems that Mr. Clark has received extraordinary attention for this unfortunate event. May he mend quickly and well.

[JulesMad]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

[Gassit]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

Hmm - not sure about that strategy - not swerve for a cat? - maybe. I deliberately didn't swerve or brake when a small dog ran out in front of me once - tough little bugger - my bike ended up doing somersaults down the road with me close behind. I spent a week in hospital with a broken leg and shoulder, but fortunately made a full recovery - no doubt more than partly due to wearing a good helmet. Can't understand why some holiday makers in Thailand would ever ride a bike without a good helmet on.

[axact]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

Could well have been looking at a sexy lady, it was not the cat that caused the accident. it was him taking his eyes off the road,

In answer to your question, it could have been crossing, chasing something etc etc.... Stray animals are a hazard in any country but in Asia its usual due to the numbers of soi cats / dogs and no government teaches them road awareness, god they dont even teach drivers that ! so its something one has to live with. ..

I would rather know what all those drunk drivers are doing on the road rather than the odd animal.

[atyclb]

He's still on a breathing machine, ett converted to tracheostomy, not so reassuring.

[lostinisaan]

Mrs Coles-Clark, an English teacher, credits her husband’s full face helmet, which he bought in the United Kingdom, for “absolutely” saving his life.

A cat came out on the road and Mr Clark moved to avoid it, and then looked in his side mirror to check he had missed it. He then hit the concrete curb and his bike flipped and hit a metal fence.

Why would you check if you hit a damn cat? Hope he get's well soon, with ALL feelings in his lower body. I'd supported a paralyzed friend for 11 years and it wasn't cool at all.

[lostinisaan]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

How much do you know about accidents and what damage a cat or dog can do to you? I've seen a Honda Sedan, the front completely destroyed, because he'd hit a dog.

You should try to swerve around to avoid a crash with an animal. And this is an advice coming from a biker. Got my own experience, please don't talk about things you don't really know.

Anyways, it's not about your unbelievable knowledge how to avoid accidents on a bike, guess we all wish the guy a speedy and FULLY recovery.

Edited April 15, 2013 by lostinisaan

[lostinisaan]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

What do all the drunks do on the road? Not too many animals drink and drive......

[youngXpat]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

Ok strategy if you're in a car but on a bike, not so sure.

Even hitting a cat is going to make you come off that bike!

[dalsobrook]

That helmet probably saved him on all accounts. Wish him a the best and a speedy recovery.

[BWPattaya]

He's still on a breathing machine, ett converted to tracheostomy, not so reassuring.

He has a collapsed lung, a pneumothorax, so will need some assistance until that is resolved. He probably has a drainage tube into his pleural cavity to allow the air out. Therefore it is reassuring.

[Locationthailand]

Watching Thai's with full face helmets planted on the back of their head talking on a cell phone or smoking, or the rider with a plastic brain bucket and the pillion riding side saddle texting on a phone without a helmet, makes me think the culture here needs education and some serious rules to adhere to. Of course the police are totally useless as they only time they pull riders over is to fleece them for some baht.

I used to race Grand Prix and side cars and watched my competitors through the years die one by one. Ron Toombs, Bryan Hindle, Spooner etc. Fortunately I gave up without going to that extent but have plenty of stitch scars on my body where only 'minor' accidents left their mark. I have not seen Shoei helmets here but I swear by them and there is not much that will stop something getting broken however, protecting the battery and electrical circuits of the brain is a good way to ensure a high percentage of survival chance. Good luck Stuart - I wish you all the very best.

[cup-O-coffee]

Seems like he avoided it nicely, but I guess his curiosity of looking back almost killed him. It's hard to feel sympathetic about this; moreso embarrassed. All the best in getting back on your feet, but for Pete's sake, don't ever take your eyes off the road in front of you, to look rearward simply to see if a cursed cat is alright.

[stevenl]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

Ok strategy if you're in a car but on a bike, not so sure.

Even hitting a cat is going to make you come off that bike!

No, it is not.

I have done extensive biketraining, and quite often increasing speed a bit to make the front wheellighter and run over the obstacle is the best cause of action.

[Judo Chop]

Helmet and insurance. Now there's 2 words we seldom see in the same sentence.

[grumpyoldman]

Make a mental note to yourself: in case a dog/cat is on the road, do NOT swerve to avoid it!!! You only endanger yourself!!! Just run over it!!! Not very nice, I know.... But better a dead dog/cat, than a dead self! Lesson learnt from first-hand experience.....

What are they doing on the road anyway?!?

Could well have been looking at a sexy lady, it was not the cat that caused the accident. it was him taking his eyes off the road,

On the road to Cape Panwa? I'd say you don't know Phuket very well.........ahhhhh yea, ton's of sexy ladies to gawk at there.......

[pistachios]

Amazing that he's able to smile while knowing he will at best stay in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.