A British backpacker has spoken out after being left with severe injuries and a massive medical bill following a motorbike accident in Thailand, where her insurance policy proved invalid due to a technicality.
The Incident
Chloe Foster, 26, from Rochester, Kent, was a passenger on a motorbike on the island of Ko Phangan when the vehicle flipped over. The rider fled the scene without summoning help, leaving her injured at the roadside.
The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning after a full moon party. Unable to find a taxi, Chloe accepted a lift from a British man she believed was trustworthy. “I just felt that because he was a British guy and he was local to my area, that I was safe. Unfortunately, I said yes – though looking back, I obviously wish I hadn't. It was a bad judgment of character on my end,” she said.
The rider was travelling at speed on mountainous terrain, estimated at 30-40 mph, when the bike crashed. Chloe was thrown five metres and knocked unconscious.
Aftermath and Injuries
Strangers assisted Chloe at the scene, but the rider retrieved his phone and disappeared before an ambulance was called. A nearby doctor provided aid, and an ambulance arrived about 20 minutes later. In hospital the following day, Chloe learned she had suffered a broken foot, facial fractures, and extensive swelling and bruising.
“I was on quite a lot of pain relief, so I didn't even know who I was, where I was. I just felt so scared and overwhelmed. It's a small island, and they [the staff] are obviously all Thai. I was screaming, crying for help, and they just didn't understand me. It is the worst situation I've ever been in in my entire life,” she recounted.
Insurance Shock
After nearly a week in hospital, Chloe was discharged on Wednesday but faced a £4,000 bill for treatment. Her insurance policy was only valid if she had flown directly from the UK, not from Vietnam, where she had travelled prior to Thailand. A hospital insurance liaison initially assured her she was covered, but later she was told otherwise.
Her mother has flown out to support her, and the family has paid half the bill. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover the remaining costs, which may increase with further treatment needed. A police report has been filed, and witnesses and video evidence of the driver have been provided, but his name remains unknown.
