Update on two Aussies who almost died in separate Bali crashes this week
One is the partner of a reality TV star with a shattered spleen, the other a theme park work who might lose an eye. The latest on two young Aussies who almost died in Bali.
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The families of two young Australians whose lives hung by a thread after separate horror scooter crashes in Bali this week have given updates on the plight of their loved ones.
Gold Coast finance worker Sam Hourigan was on holiday with his girlfriend – Bachelor contestant Kristen Czyszek – when he was almost killed in a hit and run.
Meanwhile fellow Gold Coaster, Sea World employee Rebecca Ode, has woken up to discover she may lose an eye.
Ms Ode’s neurosurgeon specialist Professor Tjkorda Gde Bagus Mahadewa told Daily Mail of the heartbreaking first words from the 36-year-old when she woke from her marathon 10-hour lifesaving surgery.
“She woke up and said, ‘what happened to me?’” Professor Mahadewa said.
“We conducted several things such as correction to her head bones.
“She had also suffered a leak in the brain.
“Then we did a correction on her face and nose because it’s all broken.”
Professor Mahadewa added that Ms Ode has amnesia and does not recall the accident.
However, Balinese police have confirmed she crashed her motorbike on Monday in Nusa Lembongan – an island to Bali’s southeast.
Originally from Newcastle, Ms Ode is also recovering from a broken collarbone.
Terrifyingly, the cause of her near fatal injuries was initially unknown.
Her brother-in-law Jesse Wilton told news.com.au she was found floating horrendously injured and semiconscious on the road.
Mr Hourigan, a talented freediver, was on the Padang Padang bridge in Bali’s Uluwatu region when he was struck down by a motorcyclist who was travelling the wrong way with no lights on.
As he lay unconscious, another scooter ran over him leaving him with a shattered spleen, broken ribs and internal bleeding.
His spleen had to be removed during surgery and he is now facing a long road to recovery.
His partner Ms Czyszek – a contestant on season seven of the Bachelor – took to Instagram to tell of her devastation as she made a plea for help with funds to cover his medical bills.
The pair had taken out travel insurance but a minor technicality meant the insurance company refused to pay his hospital or travel costs, Ms Czyszek said.
“My partner Sam was in a hit-and-run accident in Bali over the weekend that nearly took his life. He will be impacted forever,” she wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
“He suffered broken ribs, a shattered spleen, cuts all over his body and life-threatening internal bleeding.
“Sam now has no spleen or appendix, and one of his biggest joys in life is freediving which may be taken away forever.
“He knows he is lucky to be alive, but his heart is broken.
“Nothing can prepare you for the amount of grief, shock, anger and sadness seeing the one you love fighting for their life. Everyone that knows him will say he is one of the most generous people with the biggest heart.
“The medical bills are at $50,000 which his insurance will not cover because of a minor technical exclusion. Any help from the community would mean the world to me, Sam and all that know him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Mr Hourigan’s diving coach, Adam Sellars, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to support his friend, who he referred to as “Batman” with his recovery.
“Sam is always the first to lend a helping hand to those in need, very generous wherever he goes, and is very proud and would not ask for help but his hospital bills are going to reach potentially as high as $50k, not to mention the time away from being able to work and rehab,” Mr Sellars wrote.
“Please give generously. You know Sam aka Batman would in the same position.”
Mr Wilton has also set up a GoFundMe for Ms Ode which has so far raised more than $170,000.
Originally published as Update on two Aussies who almost died in separate Bali crashes this week
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