Australian tourist stuck in Thailand hospital with mounting medical bills

AN AUSTRALIAN tourist is stuck in a Thai hospital after becoming seriously injured doing something we all do on holidays.

Dawn Weldon-Schupp is stuck in a Thailand hospital with a mounting medical bill after her travel insurance claim was rejected. Her friend Donna Saalfeld is trying to raise money to bring her home.

AN AUSTRALIAN woman who was critically injured in a road accident while on holidays is stuck in Thailand with mounting medical bills after her insurance claim was rejected.

Australian tourist Dawn Weldon-Schupp was riding a moped with her 14-year-old son Josh when they collided head-on with a truck in the Thai resort district of Ko Lanta on January 15.

The 53-year-old nurse from Valla Beach on the NSW mid north coast has been in a critical condition at the Bangkok Hospital in Phuket ever since.

She suffered a brain injury, fractured skull, punctured lung and broken bones. Josh escaped with minor injuries and has since flown home.

Dawn Weldon-Schupp and her son Josh before their trip to Thailand.

Ms Welden-Schupp had comprehensive travel insurance but later found out she wasn’t covered for the accident. In documents obtained by news.com.au, the insurance company told Ms Welden-Schupp her claim was rejected because the moped had enough power to be classified as a motorbike and she didn’t have a license to ride one.

“The engine size of the bike you rented was 110cc and is therefore considered a motorbike as per policy wording,” the insurance company wrote.

“Motorcycle under the policy means any two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle with an engine displacement greater than 50cc.

“We have confirmed you do not hold a current motorbike license.”

Dawn Weldon is stuck in a Thailand hospital with mounting medical bills after her insurance claim was rejected.

Ms Weldon-Schupp’s best friend Donna Saalfeld rushed to be by her side and has made an emotional plea for help in a video she posted to social media.

She said the hospital will not discharge Ms Weldon-Schupp until a mounting medical bill is paid and begged Australians to donate money to help bring her friend home.

“I am desperate ... There was an exclusion in her policy that she wasn’t aware of and most Australians would have no idea about,” Ms Saalfeld said, explaining that the hospital bill has already reached $56,000 within a matter of days.

“The repatriation costs will probably be $30,000. I’ve tried asking every single person I know, all her family, and we have no option.

“Dawn needs to fly business class (for medical reasons) and have a medical escort to return home to Australia and this is going to be expensive.

“We are looking at her super and other insurance options but that won’t happen overnight.”

Ms Saalfeld told news.com.au the medical bill was increasing by about AUD$2500 every day.

“She’s still in a very, very serious condition with multiple traumas and not much memory so she can’t get clearance to fly for another two weeks,” Ms Saalfeld said.

“She’s a nurse, who has been working with the Red Cross and devoted her life to helping others, and would never have ridden the moped if she thought it was risky or knew she wasn’t covered, so I promise you she’s extremely deserving.”

Ms Saalfeld has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the medical expenses with a target of $100,000. More than $60,000 has already been raised.