Irish beautician Abbie Fleming suffered a severe spinal injury during a boat trip in Thailand just one day before she was scheduled to return home.
The incident on the boat trip left Fleming with four broken vertebrae in her spine. She underwent emergency spinal fixation and spinal fusion surgery at a hospital in Phuket, Thailand, as reported by Tipperary Live.
She was on holiday with her boyfriend, Andrew, when the accident occurred. Andrew has stayed by her hospital bedside throughout the ordeal.
Fleming announced on her social media page, @abigails_beauty_studio, that her business in Clogheen, south Tipperary, would stay closed until further notice.
“I was due back home in Ireland today after our trip away and back to work Tuesday,” Fleming wrote on her beauty page, as cited by Extra.
“Unfortunately, I had a bad accident yesterday morning while on a boat trip in Thailand and I broke four vertebrae in my back. I have now had emergency surgery and will unfortunately have to remain in Thailand in hospital for the foreseeable future while I recover.”
She added that medical staff could not give her a clear timeline for returning to Ireland.
Travel influencer Dev Skehan launched an online fundraiser to help cover expenses and bring her cousin home safely, as detailed by RSVP Live. The campaign has collected over €21k toward its €28k target following nearly 800 individual donations, according to Cork Beo.
Skehan shared a video appeal on Instagram to explain the situation to the public.
This is not my usual kind of video. I never thought I’d be making something like this, but right now I’m asking the internet for help. My little cousin Abbie has been in a freak accident in Thailand while on a ferry, and this resulted in a huge spinal surgery with pins and pieces put into her vertebrae to try and rebuild it.
Dev Skehan, travel content creator
Skehan said that the campaign welcomes contributions of any size, comparing the minimum amount to the cost of “a coffee or crisps” to help ease the physical and financial strain.
It’s something that we never thought as a family that we would have to try and beg for, but we are here, trying to ask for help, so anything at all would be greatly appreciated. And fingers crossed she can come home before Christmas. Thank you.
Dev Skehan, travel content creator
The fundraiser organizers outlined the care required before any travel plans can proceed.
“Although the surgery has been completed, her recovery is ongoing, and she remains under medical care in Thailand,” the campaign says, as recorded by RSVP Live. “There is still a long road ahead, with further recovery, rehabilitation and eventually the journey home to Ireland to consider.”
