Woman vows to crowdfund medical bills for Perth overdose backpackers
A woman has come out in support of the nine Perth backpackers who overdosed after taking an unusual drug by creating a crowdfunding page to help with their medical bills.
Emergency crews arrived at Colombo Street in inner-city Victoria Park on Tuesday night, to find some of the group unconscious, while others were suffering seizures after taking the then unknown substance.
Seven of the nine backpackers have since been released from hospital but two remain in a critical condition.
It is believed the drug, now identified as hyoscine, arrived in the mail posted from New York and was addressed to someone who had never lived at the residence.
The group, which included five French nationals, two Germans, one Italian and one Moroccan aged between 20 and 25, are not covered through Medicare and look set to face thousands of dollars worth of medical bills.
Anna Catliffe, from Sydney, has moved to back the travellers, saying the foreign nationals need Australians' support.
"As Australians we believe in a fair go for all. These two young backpackers have no family or friends to support them as they undergo treatment," she wrote on the GoFundMe page she set up on their behalf.
"They messed up, just like any of us have. The difference is, we never had to worry about the bill when we left the hospital. They do."
The 28-year-old has since been in touch with the group and revealed to Fairfax Media she believes a small donation will go a long way in helping the group.
"I'm not saying the WA taxpayers should pay, that it's their responsibility. But if we can chuck ten bucks towards this from our Christmas money instead of buying a pack of cigarettes or whatever, isn't helping these people worth more than money?"
So far, the fundraising page has raised $140 of its $1000 target.
