Couple left for dead in Bali hit and run

THE boyfriend of an Australian woman whose face was shattered in a horrific hit and run has shared her last photo before the crash in a heartbreaking post.

THE boyfriend of an Australian woman whose face was shattered in a horrific hit and run incident in Bali has shared his devastation in an emotional Instagram post while the injured woman underwent intensive reconstructive surgery.

Victoria Van de Stadt, 25, was operated on in a Perth hospital where she was flown to after being thrown from a scooter and slamming into a tree on a ride with her boyfriend. She was expected to wake from a coma overnight.

The Newcastle woman and her boyfriend Louis Macindoe, 26, had hired the two-wheel vehicle on the last day of their week-long holiday in the southern village of Canggu.

The trip ended in horror when the scooter the pair was riding was apparently slammed by a speeding vehicle and the pair were left for dead.

The pair, whose family members fear would have bled to death if left on the road, were found on the quiet street alongside their mangled bike by a group of tourists with medical training who called an ambulance and kept them alive, assisting with Ms Van de Stadt’s breathing during the wait.

According to her devastated mother, Tracey Priestley, the popular hairdresser and cafe worker was left with a split jaw; smashed eye socket, nose and palate; and many missing teeth.

She also had injuries to the rest of her body and is expected to endure a painful months-long recovery following yesterday’s marathon surgery.

Louise Macindoe posted the last picture of Tori before the incident to Instagram with an emotional caption. Picture: Instagram/@louistalksmacindoe

Mr Macindoe, who has already been operated on for his head injuries, has asked friends to keep Tori in their thoughts.

“I’m sending cosmic healing vibes and loving energies across to Perth for my love,” he wrote on Instagram.

The emotional caption accompanied what Mr Macindoe said was the last photograph of Tori before the horror crash that resulted in them both being hospitalised.

“I’ve been operated on and gathered enough sense to operate my phone, sort of. Tori is still undergoing surgery and I need for you all to be still keeping her in your thoughts,” he wrote.

“It’s hard to get any purchase on what happened given the circumstances, it’s the first time in my life I’ve come that close to wiping out completely.”

Both Mr Macindoe and Ms Van de Stadt were adventurous and well-travelled, and experienced in two-wheeled riding.

The pair’s social media feeds show a clear love for motorbikes and adventure.

But in his post, Mr Macindoe said his experience didn’t help in the horrific crash.

“While you might consider yourself to be pretty well versed on two wheels, sometimes your number can just be up,” he said.

Despite enduring significant injuries and a long road to recovery ahead, Mr Macindoe said he was “completely overwhelmed with happiness” at the love and support that had been shown to the couple.

A fundraising campaign has raised more than $65,000 for Tori Van de Stadt after she was left for dead in a tragic hit and run during her holiday in Bali.

A close friend of the popular Newcastle woman, Hayley McCloy, has started an online fundraising campaign that has already raised more than $65,000 to go towards covering the family’s travels and hospital expenses.

“With a long road of recovery ahead, Tori must undergo major facial reconstructive surgery and ongoing treatment,” Ms McCloy wrote on the gofundme page.

“The international hospital fees and travel expenses to transport her safely back to Australia have already amounted to over $60 thousand dollars.”

Ms McCloy described Ms Van de Stadt as a “bubbly, ambitious and a ‘do anything for anyone’ type of girl”.

“Her adventurous nature, competitiveness and genuine love for life are only some of the reasons that make Tori so special,” she wrote.

Friends, family members, and people who have never even met the popular cafe manager and hairdresser, have left encouraging messages and tributes along with donations on the fundraising page.

“Stay strong, Doll xo,” wrote Josie Grant.

“Sometimes life throw you a curve ball. Hoping this is one of those moments and nothing more. Best wishes and get well soon mate,” wrote friend Aj Jeske.

In an interview with the Newcastle Herald, Ms Van de Stadt’s mother Tracey Priestley said the family was distraught.

“Victoria’s just such a kind person, she’s always the first to help someone in need,” Ms Priestley said.

“She’s travelled so much on her own. Then she goes away to Bali with her boyfriend for one week, and it’s the one time you think you don’t have to worry about her.”

Mr Macindoe’s father Rob told the paper on Tuesday his son was “only just getting himself together”.

“He’s got to worry about Tori,” he said.

“All the groundswell has been for Tori’s fight because she’s so injured and the costs to the family have been massive.”

Mr Macindoe said Louis’s condition was still being assessed and he expected to be returned to Newcastle within the week.

Ms Van de Stadt was expected to wake from a coma overnight and remains at Royal Perth Hospital.