The family of a critically injured British backpacker in Thailand have expressed their desperation as they confront the staggering task of raising £170,000 to fly him home, with his travel insurance company refusing to cover the costs and the UK government providing no tangible assistance.
A Mounting Financial Crisis
Tiger Duggan, a 23-year-old from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, suffered severe head injuries in a motorcycle accident on Sunday, February 1, while travelling in Thailand. His relatives have already expended nearly £120,000 over just nine days, covering hospital bills and an internal flight to transfer him to Med Park Hospital in Bangkok, where he remains in critical condition.
Insurance Refusal and Government Inaction
Tiger's mother, Lisa Duggan, a neonatal nurse, revealed that the travel insurance company has denied the claim, citing his involvement in a 'dangerous activity' at the time of the accident. Meanwhile, the UK government has offered no practical support. The Foreign Office's sole contact has been a generic email containing links to online advice pages, which the family had already discovered through their own research.
Lisa stated emphatically: 'We’d already found those when we did a Google search on repatriation at the beginning. There’s been no phone call, no personal email, no one has reached out to offer us anything.'
Glimmers of Hope Amidst the Struggle
Despite the dire circumstances, the family received a positive development yesterday when a brain scan showed signs of life, and Tiger is no longer requiring medication to support his blood pressure. Lisa described this as 'all good news', adding that they 'continue to remain hopeful'. However, she emphasised that they are facing 'a very, very long journey with months and months of ongoing treatment and tests'.
The Crushing Daily Costs
While praising the 'amazing' care at Med Park Hospital, Lisa and her husband Kieron, a plumber, highlighted the relentless financial pressure. The ongoing hospital costs amount to £2,000 per day, and the anticipated repatriation flight to Britain is estimated at between £150,000 and £170,000. The family remains uncertain when Tiger will be stable enough for the flight.
Public Support and a Plea for Government Intervention
The Duggans have expressed being 'hugely grateful' after well-wishers donated over £180,000 through a fundraising campaign. However, these funds are being rapidly depleted by the exorbitant medical expenses. Lisa has made a direct appeal to the UK government to step in, noting: 'We know they have arranged repatriation in other cases.'
A family spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'His parents are not giving up and are willing to fight tooth and nail to get him the help he needs. They are so grateful to everyone who has donated, shared or prayed for Tiger.'
A Warning to Other Travellers
Lisa also issued a cautionary message regarding travel insurance policies, particularly for young people. She pointed out that many are unaware of clauses related to dangerous activities abroad, hoping the publicity surrounding Tiger's case will raise awareness among parents and young travellers alike.
Tiger had been travelling in Thailand since January 16 after working in a 'dream job' for a gold mining company in Perth, Western Australia. His family, including brother River, remains by his bedside in Bangkok, clinging to hope while grappling with an overwhelming financial burden.
