Brit, 32, unable to eat or talk after scooter smash in Thailand…& left her with £7k bill because of the BIKE she chose
A WOMAN who suffered horrific injuries in a Thailand moped crash is now facing enormous medical bills with no help from her insurance.
While riding her scooter in Phuket, boxer Anna Kormošová was struck “head-on” by another bike, leaving her unable to eat or talk with “24 stitches, a broken nose, and severe facial fractures”.
Anna appeared in a video on her Instagram story in the early hours of Thursday morning, sitting in a hospital bed with plasters over her nose and forehead.
Her eyes were swollen, her cheeks bruised, and she had blood on her shirt. She held a plush pink toy as she spoke.
Through tears, Anna said: “I’m not sure if you can hear me, because I can’t talk much but I just want to say thank you for every single donation, message, everyone who visits me, everyone who helps me.
“I really appreciate it, thank you so much, guys.”
She said she had a surgery scheduled for the afternoon, adding: “Let’s hope everything goes smoothly.”
The boxer wrote in a caption over the video: “After my surgery I am not going to be able to talk or eat for 1 months so please remember my voice.”
An update came on Thursday afternoon via her Instagram.
Anna shared a photograph of her face where stitches were clearly visible near her eyes and on her nose.
She said: “Surgery is done. It is very painful, but it is done.
“1 months liquid diet and no talking here we come, road to recovery.”
Anna is originally from the Czech Republic but was living in the UK before she went to Thailand.
She is now said to be facing a prolonged stay of more than two months as it is not safe for her to fly, meaning she cannot work or see her family for some time – or receive medical treatment at home.
Her friend, boxer Christina Pheadona, said Anna had been through a “harrowing ordeal” made worse by her insurance nightmare.
Anna’s driver’s licence allows her to drive a 50cc moped, but she could only rent one in Thailand with 150cc.
Because of this, her insurance reportedly refused to pay for medical care after the accident.
She is now buried under a £7,000 bill for vital surgery to fix her broken jaw.
“Despite exhausting her savings, Anna has valiantly managed to cover half of the expenses, but she now finds herself in a desperate plea for assistance,” Christina wrote on a GoFundMe page.
Thai driving rules for renting scooters
RENTING a motorbike is the cheapest and easiest way to get around Thailand, but there are some key things to know before you hit the road.
- You need an international motorbike licence or a Thai motorbike licence. Motorcycle rental shops rarely ask for one, but driving without one is illegal – which can bring penalties and insurance problems if you are caught.
- It is compulsory for both the driver and the passenger to wear a helmet.
- Travel or health insurance is advisable. You may incur hefty costs for medical care and transport if you suffer severe injuries. Be careful to obey the traffic rules and be sure to have a current valid licence, or your insurance may be invalid.
- Get accustomed to the Thai style of driving before driving yourself.
Christina has has set up a Go Fund Me page for her injured friend, who she says is “unable to speak or actively seek help”.
Both women are experienced in Muay Thai, or Thai boxing.
Christina described her friend and fellow athlete as “a vibrant soul with a passion for life and a love for Muay Thai”.
She offered her thanks to Anna’s supporters on Thursday afternoon in a post shared to her own Instagram story, after they managed to raise more than half of their £7,000 goal in just 24 hours.
She said: “Thank you again, it’s so amazing and overwhelming to see how much help has been given.
“I know Anna will be so grateful and humbled by the love and quick response by all her friends and loved ones.”