Backpacker may never walk again after breaking neck while diving into Thai pool
A backpacker may never walk again after she broke her neck diving into a pool during her dream holiday to Thailand.
Sophie Wilson was one week into her six-month adventure when she dived into the shallow waters in the northern town of Pai.
The 24-year-old, from Leicestershire, said she was in shock, stating she had no reason to believe the pool was going to be so shallow.
“I couldn’t feel my body, just excruciating pain in my neck,” she told iNews.
“I couldn’t feel my legs.”
She was still conscious when another tourist pulled her from the water.
Ms Wilson was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred on to Chiangmai Ram Hospital.
But upon arrival, doctors at the privately-funded facility refused to operate until her family could guarantee the funds.
Making an unimaginable scenario even worse, Ms Wilson’s travel insurance provider refused to cover the bills, saying her injuries were caused by her own “reckless behaviour”.
“They have informed us they will not be covering the costs of the operations, any care she needs from this point onwards, or most importantly to us, getting her home to the UK,” a GoFundMe page set up by her family stated.
“Consequently, this has left our family faced with the prospect of paying for such fees.”
Upon learning the news Ms Wilson’s parents, John and Jane, immediately flew out to Thailand to be by her side, where they were told that their daughter was lucky to be alive.
“It was ‘touch and go’ at one stage, as to whether she was going to live, due to her blood pressure dropping to dangerously low levels,” they added.
“Sophie has since undergone 10 hours of surgery in Thailand, both of which were successful and have gone on to maximise her chances of recovery.”
Due to her delicate condition and need for a specialist medical flight home, the costs of Ms Wilson’s treatment have soared past $100,000.
As of Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe page had raise more than $110,00.
