Pawn Stars’ Corey Harrison shared a health update after his dad, Rick, raised questions over his fundraising.
Known as ‘Big Hoss’ on the American reality show, the star was in a horror motorbike accident in Tulum, Mexico, back in January, just days before his dad’s wedding.
The 42-year-old is said to have suffered a number of ‘devastating injuries’ included 11 fractured ribs, a punctured lung, a concussion and internal bleeding.
His friends ended up taking to GoFundMe to raise ‘emergency funds’ to cover over $100,000 in medical bills and related expenses. This target has changed over the days and now sits at $18k with just over $13k currently raised.
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However, Rick has questioned the need for the fundraiser as he suggested he had covered his son’s medical bills already.
The pawn shop owner told TMZ: “As far as I know, I paid all of Corey's medical bills long before he put the GoFundMe out.”
Rick suggested that there’s no ‘repayment schedule in place’ for his son as he added: “He is a grown man in his 40s and is responsible for how he handles his finances."
But this seemed news to Corey who said: “If he decided I don't have to pay him back the money, then happy birthday to me.
“But based on our personal and business relationship, I don't see how that's possible. I love my father very much, he's always been there for me, and I don't have a problem with him at all."
As the GoFundMe continues to take donations, Corey issued an update on his condition via his friend Aron as he said: “Thank you so much to the people who have donated!
“I don’t know if anyone out there has broken ribs but this is awful!! I will keep everyone updated on my condition.”
The GoFundMe claims that as costs added up quickly, ‘Corey had no choice but to check himself out against medical advice’ after 14 days in hospital.
He was however in ‘agony’ and his oxygen levels ‘plummeted to dangerously low levels’ the next day.
Aron wrote: “In a heartbreaking moment that shook all of us to our core, Corey looked at us and said, ‘I'm just going to die out here. I don't have the money to keep paying these people.’ We knew we couldn't let that happen.”
He continued that Corey ended up spending another 18 days in hospital and is now ‘three months behind on rent’ and faces on-going care, expenses and is ‘not yet strong enough to travel back to the US’.
“Any donation, big or small, makes a real difference in helping him recover from this motorcycle accident in Mexico and get back on his feet,” Aron added.
And a message from Corey on 6 March reads: “Thank you to everyone who has donated. There has been a lot of misinformation out there about my net worth and about who has been paying my bills. I want to make it clear that every penny you have given is going toward my recovery. I am deeply indebted to all of my fans for your support, kindness, and generosity during this difficult time.”
Topics: GoFundMe, Health, TV and Film
Jess Battison