Wedding day tears
Groom in coma as bride keeps vigil
SATURDAY should have been a day of celebration for Ash Hickman and Tam Matthews. Instead, the Cairns groom lies in a critical condition while his bride keeps a bedside vigil.
Mr Hickman, 32, was flown from Bali’s Kuta Hospital on Friday by air ambulance to Western Australia after a freak moped accident on his bucks’ weekend away left him with a fractured skull and in a coma last week.
The Smithfield painter was deemed to be stable enough for a medevac after initial fears he would need to stay in Bali for weeks.
Complications from the flight required him to be returned to the operating theatre at the Royal Perth Hospital.
“Ashley was assessed by the team here and it was found he needed to undergo surgery,” Ms Matthews posted on social media from Perth.
“He is once again critical and in an induced coma.”
It is understood that part of Mr Hickman’s skull was removed to reduce swelling and bleeding.
For Ms Matthews and Mr Hickman’s family the next week will be one of the hardest of their lives as they watch for signs of recovery.
The couple, who have been together for eight years, had planned to be married at Trinity Park’s Bluewater on Saturday.
“It was a difficult and emotional day for both of our families,” Ms Matthews posted yesterday.
She was having a final dress fitting last weekend when she was told of the accident.
A Go Fund Me campaign has been launched to raise money for Mr Hickman’s medical expenses and raffle tickets are on sale for a fundraiser at Q Sports Bar on Sheridan St, which will be drawn next month.
So far more than $28,000 has been raised for $75,000 in medical costs.
Mr Hickman held travel insurance while in Bali, but was not covered for medical bills because he did not hold an international driver’s licence for the moped.