GoFundMe launched to fund treatment after Thailand crash

Arron Rouse crashed his moped on the Island of Koi Yao Noi, leaving an open wound on his leg and several broken ribs on Friday, December 16.

Though Mr Rouse had a free travel insurance policy with his bank he did not activate it before he left.

He has urged everyone to make sure they have insurance in place when they travel abroad as he is now forced to fundraise the £4537.75 needed to get the remaining surgeries on his leg.

He said: "GoFundMe doesn't work in Thailand so a dear friend in Australia was able to set up the site for me which is why the money appears in Australian dollars.

"I'm in quite a bit of trouble as I'm far away from home, can’t work and need more money for more surgeries."

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Arron Rouse's leg and the moped after the crash. (Image: Arron Rouse)

Mr Rouse has been living in Thailand working at his cousin's restaurant and was leaving after work one night when he crashed.

He said: "I was riding my moped back to my cousin's house along a dark road and the bike just totally skidded out and I was thrown off.

"The bike was destroyed and when I looked at my leg I noticed a chunk of meat missing. When I tried to stand and the bone just poked out of my leg.

"I was in total agony. I crawled for around half a mile until I reached some shack-style housing but nobody was around to answer my calls for help."

"I eventually made my way home and passed out in my room. The next day my cousin found me with my leg covered in blood and arranged for people to come and help me.

"I was taken down the hill to a hospital on the island but it did not have a good reputation so my cousin advised me to get a hospital in Phuket.

Arron Rouse being carried down the hill to get to hospital. (Image: Arron Rouse)

"My cousin arranged a boat to get me to the hospital out of his own money and my parents have also helped with money to fund my early surgeries."

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Mr Rouse was faced with the reality that he may have to lose his leg if the infection became too bad to treat.

He said: "I had to have a couple of surgeries already, My leg was at first stitched back up but it became severely infected.

"Infection is serious in Thailand and I was told in the hospital that it was a strong possibility I was going to lose my leg which I was terrified about.

"Over time the infection healed and I am now at a stage where I need a skin graft and more stitches."

So far, GoFundMe has raised A$4,610, or £2614.88.

To donate to Mr Rouse's GoFundMe, you can visit here.