A Welsh man is in a serious condition in Bali after sustaining a head injury in a scooter crash. Mark Lee, 42, originally from Maesteg has sustained a critical head injury and had bleeding around the brain, as well as several other injuries following the incident.
His family report that, while riding his scooter home from his studio in Ubud, Bali, a parked car opened its door into his path causing the accident. He has already had surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain and drain the blood, and will require further surgery on his broken hand once he is is stable.
"We found out on Saturday," explained his sister-in-law Colleen from their home in Maesteg. "His ex-girlfriend was the first one to contact us." The family were then able to reach out to the hospital, however delays in finding an English-speaking doctor to explain the situation made for an even more stressful situation."
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Mark has been removed from the ventilator and is breathing independently, but has a long recovery ahead. "He was meant to be coming home to see us in May," Colleen added. "They reckon if he hadn't had his helmet on he would have been killed."
The family are now desperate to get someone out to see him, however travel isn't straightforward. "It's just trying to get [Mark's Mum and Dad's] passports sorted," Colleen explained. "They've only got five months left before they expire and they need six. I've been trying to look up emergency travel documents."
The family must also arrange visas before they can travel out to see him, and the costs of his treatment are ever-growing. "He hasn't got health insurance," Colleen added. While the family are doing all they can to support him, medical care is expensive and everything must be paid for in advance.
To help the family with the burden, a fundraiser has been set up by his friend Zachary, who writes: "We need to pay for the surgery, hospital ICU care, rehabilitation, ambulance, rent and living expenses for the next few months as well as any additional doctor visits and medicines for the trauma to his head and hand injuries."
He adds: "For those who don't know Mark, he is one of the most kind hearted, beautiful and gentle souls. He has the biggest heart and is the most gifted visionary artist / inventor / architect / designer. His breathtaking futuristic visions and creations are advancing humanity and the world to a better, more beautiful place.
"Throughout this stressful period, his friends and family remain hopeful and resilient. We are raising the money to help Mark to pay for these expenses and assist him for a full recovery during and after hospital. We would love to spread the word to as many people possible, to help this beautiful soul to ease this sudden financial burden." The fundraiser can be found here.
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