• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Family of woman who fell from Thailand balcony raise £75,000 to bring her back to the UK

Home> News

Published 08:44 12 Jan 2023 GMT

Family of woman who fell from Thailand balcony raise £75,000 to bring her back to the UK

Maddi Neale-Shankster, from Coventry, suffered life-threatening injuries when she fell from a hotel balcony on Ko Pha-Ngan island

Jess Hardiman

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.

Advert

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.”

Maddi Neale-Shankster.
Family handout

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.

Advert

“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.”

Her parents flew to Thailand to be with her.
GoFundMe

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.

Advert

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."

Featured Image Credit: Family handout

Topics: UK News, World News

Jess Hardiman
Jess Hardiman

Jess is Entertainment Desk Lead at LADbible Group. She graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

X

@Jess_Hardiman

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • Harris County Sheriff's OfficeHarris County Sheriff's Office
    2 hours ago

    Man arrested for murder after two friends shot each other in head while wearing helmets

    The two men were said to have been taking turns shooting at each other

    News
  • Euro SportsEuro Sports
    2 hours ago

    Man slammed for shocking moment at tennis match in viral video identified as player speaks out

    Kamil Majchrzak has identified the man who allegedly took his cap off a boy at the US Open

    News
  • Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesChip Somodevilla/Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Why people thought Donald Trump had died as sick rumour went viral

    The great internet death hoax claimed the President of the United States

    News
  • Women's Super LeagueWomen's Super League
    3 hours ago

    Female rugby player immediately sent off after comment she made to male referee

    Sinead Peach was sent packing after riling up the referee

    News
  • Family of US woman who disappeared with child and joined tribe in Scotland share her last messages
  • Sinister update on dolphin ‘playing with family’ off UK coast as urgent warning issued
  • British woman explains why she is moving from UK to Florida with entire family
  • British woman reveals she has moved to Benidorm as the UK has 'too many foreigners'