Featured Image Credit: Family handout
Topics: UK News, World News
Jess Hardiman
The family of a woman who fell from a balcony in Thailand have managed to raise £75,000 to bring her back to the UK.
Maddi Neale-Shankster, 21, suffered life-threatening injuries when she fell more than 60ft from the balcony of a hotel on New Year’s Eve, having been on the island of Ko Pha-Ngan while on a ‘dream holiday’ with her partner.
Her family say she ‘may never walk again’ after the fall left her with spinal fractures and blood and fluid on her chest.
The beauty therapist from Coventry is now stuck in Thailand as she didn’t have adequate travel insurance to cover repatriation, with her mother and father having flown out to the country to meet with doctors and officials from the British Embassy.
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Her family are now raising money to help bring her home, with the GoFundMe description saying: “Our beautiful daughter Maddi sadly may never walk again after a devastating fall from a 60ft balcony whilst on her dream holiday in Thailand.
"Since the fall we are now coping with the realisation that potentially she may never walk again.”
They added that Neale-Shankster had been ‘left on the floor for 40 minutes helpless’ until the ambulance finally arrived.
“We have been advised that medical evacuation could cost up to 100k and treatment costs are mounting daily,” the GoFundMe said.
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“We have already paid for her operations, treatments and medications up to date and will continue to do so but our biggest concern now is bringing her home.
“Her lungs aren’t stable enough to fly without ICD drains on both sides, but to fly with drains requires a repatriation team to fly over with all necessary medical equipment and fly her home safely.”
The family said nurses advised them that flying without ICD drains would not be possible for a year.
So far, the GoFundMe has raised more than £75,000 for Neale-Shankster, with promises that any leftover funds will be donated to charity.
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Mum Karen Moseley-Neale said her daughter had suffered a broken back, two collapsed lungs and her ribs pierced her liver in the fall.
However, she said her condition had improved significantly after back surgery.
Speaking to BBC News, the concerned mother said: "She's really well in herself, she's sitting up, she's certainly found her sense of humour. She's actually lucky to be here only for the grace of God and the surgeons."
She also urged anyone travelling abroad to be diligent with their insurance cover, adding: "She took holiday insurance while in Thailand for 10,000 baht (£247). She thought it was £10,000... I'd hate for anybody to be in this position."