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Wales Online
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Sophie Halle-Richards & Brett Gibbons

Ruler of Dubai will fund medical costs of trainee teacher who suffered horrific brain injury after falling from horse

The ruler of Dubai has agreed to fund medical costs for a 24-year-old trainee teacher who suffered a severe brain injury after being thrown from a horse while in the country.

Rebecca Chisholm, 24, from East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, remains in intensive care following the accident on May 10.

Her insurance failed to cover medical bills of £60,000, but Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has confirmed that he will pay all charges until Rebecca is discharged from hospital, Manchester Evening News reports.

A statement on the family's funding page said: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has offered singularly the most generous gift we could ever have wished to receive.

Rebecca Chisholm is in intensive care in a Dubai hospital (Facebook)

"His Highness has offered to pay for all of Becca’s medical costs until she is discharged from Rashid Hospital.

"We will be forever thankful to him and his country."

Rebecca's mum, Wendy Skelton, had flown to Dubai for her daughter's birthday and was with her at the time of the horrific accident.

She has not left her side since.

Rebecca and Wendy (Facebook)

The 56-year-old told Nottinghamshire Live about the moment tragedy struck - as her daughter's horse reared and bolted, leaving her "clinging onto it for dear life".

She found her daughter, who was 23 at the time, further down the track lying in a heap in the sand saying she was "dying".

Her family have commended the 'world class' treatment Rebecca has been provided by the intensive care unit at Rashid Hospital.

They said: "Her condition is improving but her severe brain injury had left her with extreme fatigue after simple activities such as eating or talking, panic attacks and requiring speech therapy.

"Becca is still confined to bed with a fluid drain from her brain still in place and she has not walked since the accident.

"Her rehabilitation in the UK will be lengthy and it is still too soon to say whether she will make a full recovery."

A GoFundMe page has already raised more than £65,000 for Rebecca, who previously taught at St Clare’s RC Primary School, in Blackley, Manchester.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Getty Images)

Pupils and staff from the school contributed £7,248 after a fundraising walk, wearing t-shirts with the slogan; 'Bring home Bex'.

Rebecca's family have said they will donate any remaining funds to Headway UK. .

"We will still need to pay for the specialised medical flight home and Wendy's additional expenses while she remains in Dubai with Becca," they wrote.

"But this also means that we can ensure Becca has access to the best aftercare when she gets back to the UK.

"We will also honour our commitment and pass on all remaining funds after these costs have been settled to Headway UK.

"Once again, we have to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum."

Find the GoFundMe campaign here.

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