The moment an Australian woman suffered a catastrophic brain injury at a Thailand hotel has been caught on camera, as her family’s efforts to medically evaluate her continue.
Meanwhile, Kylee Enwright’s travel insurer has issued a statement after deciding she was not covered for the accident, as first reported by 7NEWS.com.au on Wednesday.
WATCH THE VIDEO: Aussie injured during holiday in Thailand remains in coma as family battles to get her home.
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Enwright, from Singleton in NSW, has been mostly unconscious in Bangkok Hospital Phuket since May 28 after falling at the Grand Mercure hotel in Khao Lak.
She underwent emergency brain surgery after the incident.
The ordeal has left her family thousands of dollars out of pocket. Her husband Paul Enwright says it cost him $20,000 for Kylee’s emergency treatment, plus more each day she remains in hospital.
He has also been told it will cost about $200,000 for her medical evacuation.
The couple had travel insurance but it has not been paid out due to a clause excluding incidents involving alcohol.
“Cover-More is fair and reasonable in our claims processes, and we make our decisions after thoroughly assessing all available details and medical information,” Cover-More said in a statement to 7NEWS.
“We gave Kylee’s husband, Paul, a detailed and transparent explanation for declining this claim.
“This is a sad case, and we will continue to offer Paul and Kylee and their families all the non-financial assistance Cover-More can.
“This includes help with arranging repatriation to Australia, assisting with hospital admissions and a ground ambulance in Australia, travel arrangements and making appointments with local medical practitioners overseas or in Australia.”
Paul Enwright told 7NEWS.com.au that the couple had travelled to Thailand for a relaxing holiday after years of COVID-related challenges for their small pest management business.
“We were doing it tough and just getting by, so we thought we would have a holiday to decompress,” Paul told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Like most small businesses, we’ve been struggling the last few years with COVID.”
On the second day of their trip, the couple were having drinks at the hotel when Kylee went to the bathroom.
“Then all of a sudden I was getting called by the hotel staff to come quickly,” Paul said.
“I got over there and found she had fallen off the deck, head-first, about half a metre.
“She was basically bleeding from the head and ears. Her head hit the ground very hard, from what I’ve been told.”
Paul believes she may have come unstuck trying to find a different route back from the toilet to avoid the rain.
Another guest provided first aid before emergency services arrived about 15 minutes later, Enwright says.
Just over a week from the incident, Paul says his wife has “opened her eyes a couple of times, but basically (she has) been asleep ever since”.
“She can move her left arm and left leg. She can squeeze your hand. She hasn’t moved her right side very much and they’re a bit concerned that she’s not more alert by now,” he said.
“They’re not sure what’s going on there.
“We need to get her back to Australia and back in the Australian medical system, where I think she can get the best care.”
Paul said he had expected Enwright’s medical costs to be covered by their insurance and admits the couple “didn’t read the fine print” of the policy.
“I am disappointed. Like most Australians, we took up travel insurance at the level of coverage that we thought was going to be adequate,” he said.
“We thought we’d done everything right.
“We’ve been stung by it in the most devastating way.”
The couple’s three adult children have travelled to be with their mother.
“It’s very confronting to see their mother in a bed with tubes and her head shaved,” he said.
“We’re just at a loss. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“We have absolutely hit a wall.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up. In a positive development, donations have almost doubled to more than $85,000 after Kylee’s story was reported by 7NEWS.
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