A campaign has been launched to bring home an Aberdeenshire man stuck in Thailand with a £16,000 medical bill after he broke his leg in a scooter accident.
Kieran Angus, from Westhill, was taken to a hospital in the Southeast Asian country on Sunday after falling off a 125cc moped and breaking his leg in Pai.
The 27-year-old, who arrived in Thailand two weeks ago, has since been told he needs two operations before he can fly home, with surgery costs estimated at £16,000.
Speaking to STV News, Kieran said he is going through the “lowest days of his life” as he bids to get home to his family in time for Christmas.
He said: “Myself and my friends had decided that we were going to hire some scooters so we could see the sights outside of the town.
“We asked what would be the best scooters for us to see the sights that surrounded Pai and we were advised the scooters of 125cc +.
“We had just left Pai and we’re heading into the hills, when we approached a deep bend in the road. I had slowed down, however on the bend I lost control.
“I’m unsure of what happened exactly in that moment, but I ended up going off into the side of the road and I rolled off of the bike.
“I had went off to the side, my left leg hit a pillar and I rolled over the handle bar of the scooter.
“My left leg had shattered and I fell to the ground in utter agony.”
Kieran was taken to Chiang Mai Ram Hospital, where he was told he sustained an open fracture.
However, after an initial operation, the personal trainer was told that his travel insurance policy will not pay out for the accident – as his driving license can only cover 50cc engines.
Kieran added: “I never once thought that I wasn’t legal to drive that scooter – if I knew that I wasn’t, then I would have never stepped foot on it.
We were given no terms from the rental service, we thought we were covered for up to 125cc by our insurance – as it states on the policy, however, it is not clear enough that a CBT Certificate is required for this.
“I don’t understand how it can be perfectly legal to ride a 125cc scooter in Thailand – when the insurance that you have is comprehensive and to cover you overseas but be penalised by British laws.
I am not a risk taker when it comes to my life, I was over here in Thailand having the greatest time, I would have never took that risk knowing that I was going against my policy.
“These have been the lowest days of my life.
“Lying in a hospital bed on the other side of the world from your loved ones, with a broken leg and a rising hospital bill that your insurance company is refusing to pay is not a situation I ever thought I’d see myself in.
“I will never be able to extend my gratitude enough to every single last person who has donated, sent their best and all the love that has been shown to myself and my family in one of the most difficult situations that we’ve ever been in.”
“Its one of the worst times of our lives.”
Kieran’s mother, Donna, has said the ordeal has put the family through “one of the worst times of their lives”.
She told STV: “Kieran is scared, sad, lonely and all he wants right now is to come home and be with his family and friends.
“I’m his mum and I should be able to make that happen but it isn’t easy at all.
“It’s one of the worst times of our lives.
“I just want to give him a massive hug and tell him it’s going to be okay but I can’t.
“The love and support we’ve been shown is overwhelming and wonderful and unexpected and I don’t know where we’d be without the kindness and generosity of our family, friends and people who don’t even know us.
“Everyone has just been amazing.”
You can donate to Kieran’s fundraiser here.
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