Family raise £28,000 for man hurt in Thailand road crash

THE FAMILY of a man from York who was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Thailand have raised almost £30,000 to pay for his medical treatment.

Christian Richardson was hit by a pick-up truck as he was leaving a coffee shop, on the island of Koh Samui on April 13.

The 32-year-old, who moved to South East Asia last year to become a Muay Thai fighter, was then airlifted to Bangkok and told he will need to undergo a number of surgical procedures as he had suffered several fractures and lacerations.

His sister Emmy Watson has raised more than £28,000 so far to cover his medical bills, but set a target of £60,000.

She said he is bed-bound, while recovering from surgery to repair a broken cheek bone and orbital floor fracture, waiting for a skin graft procedure on his foot and fighting an infection.

In a statement, she also said the insurance company is assessing his case but no decision has been made yet and her family “think it’s unlikely that they will pay”.

She added: “Our family has had to pay out significant sums of money.

“To give you an idea the first 2 days of treatment cost 1.1m Thai baht (£23,345).

“If you have the ability to donate then it would be most appreciated. If not then I ask a small favour of you, please pray for his recovery.

“If the insurance company decides in his favour then all funds will be refunded.

“Many thanks in advance to anyone who is able to help in any way they can. We need to support our fighter to get through this as I know we all want to see him get back to training and having a laugh with us over a pint of Guinness.”

Mr Richardson worked at the family business Gillygate Framing in York, before he moved to Thailand nine months ago.

He won his first Muay Thai fight shortly before the motorcycle collision.