BALI COMA HELL
Race to transfer $30,000 for fiance’s lifesaving operation
THE wedding plans of a Cairns couple this weekend are in tatters after the groom was seriously injured in a road crash in Bali during his bucks’ celebration.
Ash Hickman, 32, of Smithfield, was left in a coma in a Kuta hospital after a moped accident left him with a fractured skull. Fiancee, Tam Matthews, endured an agonising nine hours to transfer $30,000 to pay for a lifesaving brain operation.
“One of his friends called me on Saturday and said there had been an accident – I was in a final fitting for the wedding dress at the time,’’ Ms Matthews said from Bali.
She is now by his hospital bedside.
“I was on the next flight I could get to Bali and arrived with his mum that night,’ Ms Matthews said.
“It is just a waiting game at this point.”
The father-of-one underwent brain surgery on Saturday to relieve pressure on his brain and stop the bleeding – but not before his family coughed up $30,000 when the clock was ticking for the lifesaving procedure.
“It took nine hours to come up with the money and they would not accept money transfer, only credit card,” Ms Matthews said.
Mr Hickman’s travel insurer will not pay for the treatment because he did not hold a required international driver’s licence for the moped.
Doctors have been monitoring his condition in the intensive care unit.
“There have been lots of meetings,” Ms Matthews said.
“His quality of medical treatment has been quite good – he has his own team to deal with him 24/7 and we are able to see him day or night.”
Mr Hickman is in a stable condition and is expected to be taken off life support in stages today.
“We won’t know the full extent of the damage until he wakes up,” Ms Matthews said.
“He will need to remain in ICU for five days and it will be another 14 days until he can travel.”
Mr Hickman faces a long rehabilitation upon his return to Australia.
The emergency has resulted in a flood of good wishes for Mr Hickman and, as of last night, more than $13,000 raised from 184 donors in a crowdfunding campaign.
All money raised will go towards Mr Hickman’s medical bills, which have already reached $37,000, plus $14,000 in medication.
The GoFundMe campaign – called Help Ashley Get Home – has been shared more than 1000 times.