More than £6,000 has been pledged to support an Aberdeen man who has suffered horrific injuries after being involved in a scooter accident in Thailand.
Kieran Angus, 27, from Aberdeen, faces a bill of £16,000 after being told his travel insurance will not cover the bill.
The personal trainer was visiting the Asian country as part of a six-month tour when the accident happened, which has left him needing specialist treatment for a broken leg.
The musician, who is a drummer with alternative heavy rock band Broadsea, needs two operations before he can fly back to Scotland and has already undergone one.
Although Mr Angus’ insurance says he is covered to drive a 125cc engine, his driving licence says it is only valid up to 50cc, meaning that his insurance has been deemed as invalid.
In the meantime, he has also contacted the British Embassy in Bangkok for help.
‘We just want him home’
As well as facing another operation, Mr Angus has also tested positive for Covid-19 and although he is “feeling fine”, is still being billed for this care.
A Go Fund Me page has now been set up by his friend, Nicola Simpson, to raise money for his treatment and to get him back home.
It pleads: “We just want him home and he can’t travel until he has had his op. I know it is a hard time of year for people with Christmas coming up, but please, any donation, no matter how big or small, is greatly appreciated.”
Speaking to the Press & Journal, Miss Simpson, 29, said they had started with a target of £10,000 before raising it up to £12,000, due to £16,000 being “a lot to ask”.
So far, the fundraising page has raised more than £6,500, with over 240 people donating so far.
Miss Simpson added: “Kieran’s really chuffed, I think it’s lifted his spirits a bit. I spoke to him on FaceTime earlier this morning and he’s really emotional and obviously feeling really low.
“He had plans to stay out there for about six months and this has only been a few weeks into it. He’s absolutely gutted and really just quite kind of shaken up. I think he just wants to get home now.”
Posting on Facebook, Mr Angus said he has “the greatest friends ever”, adding: “I appreciate every last one of you who has sent through a message today, I’ve been very low. I’ve went from having the trip of a lifetime to being isolated in a hospital bed thousands and thousands of miles away from my family.”
