A talented n free diver may never dive again after his spleen had to be removed in emergency surgery following a horror hit-and-run incident in Bali.
Sam Hourigan was on the Padang Padang bridge in Bali’s Uluwatu region when he was struck down by a motorcyclist travelling the wrong way with no lights on.
Another scooter crushed Mr Hourigan as he lay unconscious on the road, leaving him with a shattered spleen, broken ribs and internal bleeding.
His spleen had to be removed in a life-saving surgery with doctors estimating he would only have lived for a few hours without medical treatment.
Mr Hourigan is now recovering in intensive care after the terrifying ordeal – which is expected to cost over $50,000 in medical expenses.
His partner, Kristen Czyszek, shared an update on his condition as she revealed his travel insurance would not cover the bills over a minor technicality.
‘My partner Sam was in a hit-and-run accident in Bali over the weekend that nearly took his life. He will be impacted forever,’ she wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
‘He suffered broken ribs, a shattered spleen, cuts all over his body and life-threatening internal bleeding.
‘Sam now has no spleen or appendix, and one of his biggest joys in life is freediving which may be taken away forever.
‘He knows he is lucky to be alive, but his heart is broken.
‘Nothing can prepare you for the amount of grief, shock, anger and sadness seeing the one you love fighting for their life. Everyone that knows him will say he is one of the most generous people with the biggest heart.
‘The medical bills are at $50,000 which his insurance will not cover because of a minor technical exclusion. Any help from the community would mean the world to me, Sam and all that know him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
Mr Hourigan’s diving coach, Adam Sellars, has started a GoFundMe campaign to support the talented diver as he starts a long road to recovery.
‘Sam is always the first to lend a helping hand to those in need, very generous wherever he goes, and is very proud and would not ask for help but his hospital bills are going to reach potentially as high as $50k, not to mention the time away from being able to work and rehab,’ Mr Sellars wrote.
‘Please give generously. You know Sam aka Batman would in the same position.’
The GoFundMe has raised over $32,000 at time of writing.
Mr Hourigan was named the 2023 n Freediving Depth Champion in the AFA National Depth Championships last September.
Aussies need to have a valid drivers licence to rent a scooter which is 50cc’s or less (a valid motorbike licence is required for a bike over 50cc’s).
A helmet and appropriate safety gear must be worn at all times.
Road rules must be followed.
Keep an eye out for poor road conditions.
Don’t drink and drive.
Rent from a reputable company, ask for a pre-rental damage report and take photos of the scooter before you give it back.
Make sure to get travel insurance that covers you for riding scooters.
Aussies can expect to pay up to $23,000 for a medical evacuation from Bali to Perth or Darwin if they don’t have travel insurance.
Source: 1Cover Travel Insurance