Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Izzy Hawksworth & Emma Downey & Chiara Fiorillo

Brit in intensive care after Thailand moped crash as family can't afford to get him home

A British holidaymaker is in intensive care in Thailand after suffering serious head injuries in a moped accident.

Josh Richardson, 24, was involved in an accident in February after he went out on his moped for some food in the middle of the night in Bangkok.

The Ice Hockey player from Chorley, Lancashire, suffered a fractured skull but his insurers said they will not pay £160,000 to return him to the UK on a special air ambulance as they believe he was not wearing a helmet at the time.

The tourist's family are now trying to raise £200,000 as it has not been possible to prove whether the man was wearing a helmet or not.

Josh was involved in an accident in February (Jim Richardson / SWNS)
Josh with his mum Sue (Jim Richardson / SWNS)

Josh's mum Susan said: "It was such terrible news when we heard what had happened.

"He is in a bad way and we flew out there to be with him as soon as we could.

"We’re not sure what's going to happen and we’re so grateful for everything that people are doing back home - it means such a lot to our family."

Doctors in Thailand performed a £20,000 surgery on Josh after finding air pockets in his brain.

But his family have said that the surgery hasn't been successful and he has had to have another surgery on his brain, which has cost a further £20,000.

They have also been told that if this operation is unsuccessful and he has to travel home, he would need a full ICU crew on the plane which would cost £168,000.

Josh is stranded in Thailand with serious head injuries (Jim Richardson / SWNS)
Insurers said they will not pay to return Josh to the UK as they believe he was not wearing a helmed at the time of the accident (Jim Richardson / SWNS)

His family friend Joanne Gibson, 56, has now set up a Go Fund Me to help support Josh's family.

She said: "How on earth are normal working people meant to pay it?

"Where are they meant to get this money from?

"I don't think Thailand will let them leave without paying upfront first.

"We've all come together and managed to raise £30,000 but I think we're exhausted because it's just not touching the iceberg.

"His bill is already thousands and then we need at least £150,000 to get him home."

You can donate here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.