A 24-year-old Queensland man is fighting for his life after ingesting rat poison while on a university exchange in Taiwan.
Alex Shorey from Toowoomba in southern Queensland has been in the Taipei Medical University hospital since April 18 after inadvertently digesting the rat poison superwarfarin about a month ago.
His brother, Jean-Luc Shorey, told the ABC that the past month was supposed to be an ordinary end to the university exchange in Taiwan for his "funny and bubbly" brother as he explored the streets of Taipei.
Alex had been in the country studying Mandarin as part of his languages and marketing degree at the University of Queensland.
"It would have been a little over four weeks ago now when Alex presented with the initial symptoms," said Jean-Luc, 26.
"He wouldn't stop bleeding. It was a bit strange.
"When he went to a doctor in Taiwan, they just essentially thought it was an infection or he had received damage to his arteries."
But over the next few days Alex got worse. He was nauseous and blood started appearing in his urine.
"My dad [Toowoomba-based GP Dr Stephen Shorey] thought that's not normal and it seemed quite worrying," Jean-Luc said.
"As GPs do, he was frantically researching what it might be [from] back in Australia."
GP father rushes to Taiwan
Black spots started to appear on Alex's skin, a sign of blood haemorrhaging into his muscles.
"Dad packed up and headed over there," Jean-Luc said.
An autoimmune disease was suspected, but eventually the former Toowoomba Grammar School student was diagnosed with having inadvertently digested rat poison.
"He has ingested it somehow in his travels, through the food he has eaten maybe. We're not entirely sure and may never know," Jean-Luc said.
"It caused his blood to become really thin and bleed into his organs and muscle tissue. He's sustained damage to his liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and lots of other tissue."
Battle to get Alex home
Alex was treated with a mixture of plasma infusions and vitamin K, but ended up having anaphylactic reactions to the treatment.
"That's caused respiratory failure and further heart problems," Jean-Luc said.
"Essentially, he's in real trouble.
"The problem is if we leave him to get better on his own, the poison can damage his organs. If we try and treat it, he's having these reactions."
People donate $122,000 for medical flight
The family tried to get Alex home on commercial flights but he has been too unwell to travel.
They have instead booked a $172,000 medical rescue flight, which was not covered by insurance.
The family managed to fundraise about $122,000 from nearly 2,000 people via the internet in just two days.
"It makes you realise that there are people out there that want to help you and you're not alone if you're in a tough spot," Jean-Luc said.
It is unknown exactly when Alex will be able to make the flight home.
Government assistance provided
A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were providing assistance to Alex Shorey.
"Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further information," the spokesperson said.
UQ vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said it was a "very tragic situation for Alex and his family".
"Our thoughts are with them at this time," Professor Terry said.
"We have spoken to the family and have offered our support to get them the help they need."
