Hunter Valley Woman Recovering After Falling in Thailand
Kylee Enwright from Singleton, Hunter Valley, is currently recovering at Newcastle’s John Hunter hospital after falling and hitting her head while holidaying in Thailand. The incident occurred when she tripped down some stairs and hit her head while enjoying drinks with her husband, Paul Enwright, at a hotel bar in Khao Lak in late May. The couple was supposed to be on a 14-day poolside resort holiday but had to cut their trip short due to the accident.
Online Fundraiser Raised Over $200,000
An online fundraiser was set up to pay for Ms Enwright’s transport back to Australia for further treatment. The fundraiser raised almost $220,000, which enabled the Enwrights to fly back to Australia on a medically supervised flight. Nine seats were removed from a commercial plane so that Ms Enwright could be transported on a stretcher with a doctor and nurse supervising.
Mr Enwright expressed his gratitude to everyone who offered support to get them back to Australia. He said, “From the bottom of my heart … [I appreciate] that people reached out and did what they did. They’re all the reason we’re here because without the support and financial donations, we’d still be in Thailand.”
Signs of Improvement
Since arriving back in Australia, Ms Enwright has been showing positive signs of improvement. Mr Enwright said, “She has had an MRI and seems to be a lot more content and stable. There’s still no communication, verbal or anything like that yet. You can see emotion in her eyes and face, and she’s problem-solving. She has even at some points tried to undo her restraints that they have her in with her toes.”
Recovery May Take Up to a Year
Mr Enwright says it will take up to a year to determine the extent Ms Enwright can recover. He said, “We’ve been told by the doctors the most improvement happens between the three and 12 months mark. And then once 12 months hits, there’s very little improvement. It’ll be what it is.”
Mr Enwright is looking forward to his wife being able to leave the hospital. He said, “I just want to have her back home. I’ve lost my person I can talk to and communicate to and share things with.”
Community Support in Singleton
Mr Enwright has relied on fundraising support after his travel insurance claim for his wife’s medical expenses and flight home was rejected. He was shocked to learn that their travel insurance could be voided due to alcohol consumption. “A lot of people didn’t know there was a clause like that in their policy,” Mr Enwright said. “I assumed if you were drink-driving or doing something illegal, you probably wouldn’t be covered. But [thought] if you’re sitting in your hotel doing holiday sort of stuff, if anything went wrong, you would be covered.”
The community support in Singleton has been immense, according to Mr Enwright. He said, “That’s what we are — we’re a very tight-knit community. I’m sort of lucky in a way that I’ve been able to bring my wife home, especially in light of the other tragic accident that happened with the bus crash. There are other families in this community that aren’t able to bring loved ones home. It’s been a pretty crap time all round. My heart goes out to those families as well.”
Conclusion
The story of Kylee Enwright’s fall and subsequent recovery highlights the importance of community support during difficult times. The generosity of strangers who donated to the online fundraiser enabled the Enwrights to return home and receive the medical attention they needed. The incident also serves as a reminder to check the fine print of travel insurance policies before embarking on a trip overseas. The Enwrights’ experience shows that even when you think you’re covered, there may be clauses that can void your insurance. Overall, the Enwrights’ story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community support.