Sponsored by
Blackpool sportsman's hell in paradise
HELP us to help Dominic Chadwick. That's the plea as yet another young local man lies in a Bangkok hospital, his body broken by an accident, family at his bedside, tragedy compounded by little to no insurance to pay the bills.
Family friends have mounted a mercy mission to pay for hospital treatment for Dominic, 22, a former pupil of St Mary's College, Layton, and get him fit enough to fly home.
It's another lesson learned the hard way by a young adventurer. The appeal echoes the insurance plight of another sports-mad young adventurer Ryan Neale, 23, of Poulton, who suffered extensive brain damage in a moped crash in Thailand in April.
His friends and family raised the funds to fly him home. He's now in Royal Preston Hospital but still in a "vegetative state", says his stepfather Joe Hubery, of Poulton.
Dominic, of North Shore, stumbled from a walkway in Phuket a week ago, breaking his neck and damaging nerves.
Further complications include a partial lung collapse and deep vein clot in one leg.
The spinal break means he may be permanently paralysed from the waist down. He's responding to physiotherapy and has upper body mobility only.
Dominic, who studies sports science at Edge Hill University, was on holiday with friend Alex, a dancer he met when his brother Andrew, 24, attended Phil Winston's stage school in Blackpool.
Alex's parents, who live in Malaysia, funded the holiday, but a currency mix-up meant insurance granted only 3,000 for hospital expenses.
The bill tops 13,500 and is rising at 1,200 a day. Specialists fear it it could be another seven days before Dominic is stabilised sufficiently to risk the flight home.
Insurers confirm they will pay up to 13,000 to cover a flight but specialist care, given the nature of Dominic's injuries, could boost the bill.
It cost more than 21,000 to fly home Ryan, who had no insurance, this summer, after he was flung from his bike.
Mr Hubery says the family still owe 22,000 for medical expenses. "Our solicitor has told us not to lose sleep over it – the important thing is Ryan is back in Britain.
"He's still in a vegetative state, but he's 300 per cent better than he was in Thailand. Our heart really goes out to the Chadwick family. We know what they're going through, we've been there ourselves, and we're still going through it.
"Getting the lad home is just the start of it. It's an ordeal. And all the help we had came from friends and family. The Foreign Office did very little. And although Ryan had been offered a job at the British Embassy, they just washed their hands of it all. Don't hold your breath hoping for the embassy to come through, they won't."
Dominic's family stress he's getting first rate medical care. Surgeons at Bangkok Phuket hospital operated immediately, removing bone from Dominic's hip to replace the damaged seventh vertebrae at the bottom of his neck.
"We can't fault the care he's had here," says brother James, 25, who was first to fly to his brother's side last week, his mum Jane, and brother Andrew following.
"The medical team is first rate. The appeal's not about flying him home to get better care in Britain. It’s about helping us pay the bills here, where he’s getting the best care, to fully stabilise him to return home, where we decide what’s appropriate in rehabilitation terms, which will probably be Southport Spinal Injuries Unit.
“We don’t want him to be transferred to the government hospital because we can’t pay the hospital bills. He’s already had complications, but he’s recovered the strength in his hands, and is responding to physiotherapy, and we’re now hopeful there won’t be any more problems to hinder him getting fit enough to go home. It’s early days yet, he’s still in spinal shock.”
James admits: “The fact two young local men have been in a similar situation underlines it’s all about getting the right insurance. Really think about what may be needed, in the worst case scenario.”
He’s kept the insurance news from Dominic.
“It was like having a ton of bricks fall on me. Dominic has to focus on getting as fit as he can. Our mother’s devastated but coping. She’s raised us pretty much on her own since we were kids, and she’s a fighter. We’re a close-knit family and chip into everything together.
“The hospital here has been very good and offered to waive 20 per cent of the bill.”
Back in Blackpool, Natalie Lidstone, James’ girlfriend, has started a campaign to help the family pay the hospital bills.
“It’s important we do that and bring him home,” she says. “The sooner he gets into rehab here, the better.”
Her parents Angela and David Lidstone, who run Stanley Park Art Deco Cafe, gave several thousand pounds to start the appeal.
Former fellow workers of Dominic’s at the Litten Tree, Blackpool, have donated tips. Others are now offering help.
Dominic played hockey for Blackpool Men’s and football with the Golden Eagle so is well known locally.
“We’re looking to raise at least 20,000 as quickly as possible,” adds Natalie. “Time is of the essence.”
The family of fellow stricken sportsman, Ryan, a former gym manager and snooker champ, agree. “It doesn’t matter how good the health care is – home is best,” says Mr Hubery.
He cautions other young adventurers against holidaying or back packing without insurance.
“Ryan’s got a long way to go because there’s a lot of brain damage. He will require nursing care the rest of his life. Insurance wouldn’t have changed that. But it would eased the nightmare.”
A Foreign Office spokesman says: “It is a reminder to all that taking out comprehensive travel insurance is a crucial part of your holiday planning and not something that should be sacrificed in order to save a few pounds.
"Helping British nationals in distress overseas is one of our most important tasks but many of the problems faced by holidaymakers are preventable.
“By carrying out some simple research on the laws, customs and health requirements of a country in advance, many people could prevent their holidays being ruined.”
Drink- related accidents and motorbike crashes top the list of mishaps for young foreign visitors to Thailand.
l to support the appeal call (01253) 393737
jacqui.morley@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
