Australian woman Michelle Bui is fighting for her life in a hospital bed after a shock accident on the island of Ios.
The Aussie tourist was taking a tour of the island on a quad bike when her vehicle ended up in a ditch and pinned her underneath.
Despite wearing a helmet, she was found afterwards without it (having shaken loose), meaning her head was exposed in the fall.
She was taken by helicopter to the Thriasio Hospital in Athens, wherein a CT scan revealed the tourist had bleeding on the brain and a neck fracture.
Bui’s friend Ella Weinzettel – who started a GoFundMe page to support Bui – said she required emergency craniotomy, which meant part of her skull was removed to treat the brain.
The funds raised, so far amounting to more than $80,000, will help to pay for Bui’s medical bills and transportation home, with the surgery appearing to be a success.
“The hematoma was successfully evacuated and the skull was placed back,” Weinzettel wrote on the page.
“She now has a drain inserted in her brain to drain out any excess bleeding. She has sustained rib fractures and a haemothorax, however these injuries do not need an operative intervention and instead will be for conservative management.”
Weinzettel said her friend also sustained “small cervical fractures in her upper spine” and while these do not need intervention, Bui will be required to wear an aspen collar for a number of weeks.
“She has been deeply sedated and ventilated for the past few days and is in safe hands in the intensive care unit,” Weinzettel said.
Ms Weinzettel noted that while her friend has been covered by travel insurance, it is unclear if the injuries will be covered entirely.
“I cannot begin to imagine the financial burden that it will place on Michelle and her family. So I kindly ask each and every one of you to assist us in relieving this financial burden and to bring our beautiful girl home.”
