Brit vacationer’s hell after Thailand bike crash leaves him with £23k medical invoice

Jude O’Connor’s trip across Thailand was cut short after just six days when he was involved in a serious motorbike crash, leaving him with life-changing injuries and his family facing a £23k bill

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A Brit’s dream holiday to Thailand turned into a nightmare after horror motorbike that left him badly injured and with a £23k medical bill. Jude O’Connor’s two-month adventure across the popular travel destination was abruptly ended after merely six days when he was catapulted into a stationary car.

The holidaymaker was riding a motorbike when another rider swerved out in front of him, hurling him from his vehicle into another car. The Brit sustained severe injuries, including a broken shoulder, broken arm, broken nose, and a completely shattered elbow, as reported by NeedToKnow..

“I was involved in a serious motorbike accident,” said Jude. “Another bike pulled out on me, throwing me into a parked car. I was taken to hospital and told I urgently needed surgery.

“After days of waiting in pain for the insurance to get back to us, we were informed that my insurance would not cover the costs due to exclusions I wasn’t aware of.”

The revelation left Jude and his family stunned as he believed his travel insurance and International Driving Permit would cover the expense of his medical treatment.

The Brit was operating a 125cc bike, which he maintains is the ‘smallest commonly available’ in Thailand.

However, his policy only provided cover for up to a 50cc motorbike – forcing the injured Brit to seek private treatment for his surgery.

Jude said: “This left us with no choice but to go ahead with essential surgery privately.

“I spent nearly two weeks in hospital in Thailand with my parents, having to fly out to bring me home.

“This was an extremely difficult process with trying to get my Fit-To-Fly form and the Surgeon’s approval.”

The dreadful crash occurred in March, with Jude thankfully making it back to the UK in April.

The traveller has recently undergone more complex reconstructive surgery on home soil – but faces up to a year of intense physiotherapy to return to his best.

The emotional toll on the family has been significantly exacerbated by the £23,000 medical bill looming over them.

He said: “The total cost of everything has been around £23,000 which my parents have had to borrow, putting a huge financial strain on my family.”

The Brit has now established a GoFundMe with a target goal of £17,500 – which he launched on 23 April.

Jude is currently grappling with feelings of intense guilt, hoping that the fundraiser can help alleviate the financial pressure on his family.

He said: “I’ve set up this GoFundMe to try and raise £17,500 to help ease that burden and support my family who have done everything to help me through this.

“I feel incredibly guilty that they’ve been put in this position because of my accident, and this is my way of trying to give something back to them.”

Motorbike accidents like Jude’s are a major safety issue in Thailand.

According to recent statistics, between 14,000 and 15,000 deaths related to motorbikes occur annually.

Jude is hoping that his mishap will serve as a reminder to other Brits travelling overseas to ensure they have the correct insurance and take necessary precautions.

He stated: “I also want to raise awareness so others double-check their insurance when travelling, as I believed I was fully covered and found out too late that I wasn’t.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through this.

“Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to me and my family.

“Even sharing this page helps more than you know.

“Thank you so much for your support.”