A former footy star has been accused of refusing to pay for an acrobat to be flown abroad for treatment after she broke her neck in a horror fall at his Bali resort.
Tony Smith, a former Sydney Swans star who now owns Finns Beach Club in Indonesia, came under fire after he reportedly refused to pay costs needed to fly seriously injured acrobat, Sam Panda, 26, off the island to receive treatment.
The aerialist and body contortionist broke her neck and seriously damaged her spinal cord when she fell head first from a ring four metres above the ground on October 26.
Balinese doctors told Ms Panda (pictured) she required surgery that could not be done in Bali
Former Sydney Swans footy star Tony Smith (pictured) has been accused of refusing to pay for an acrobat to be flown abroad for treatment after she broke her neck in a horror fall at his club in Bali
Disturbing footage surfaced online showing the moment Ms Panda fell and hit the concrete surface below.
Ms Panda suffered multiple fractures and came away with a shard of bone stuck in her spinal cord which prevented her from walking.
Balinese doctors told Ms Panda she required surgery that could not be done in Bali, but Finns Beach Club nor its insurance would pay for her medical evacuation.
‘Sam had a work permit and was told that she was insured by her employers. Unfortunately, her employer’s insurance won’t pay for the medical evacuation she needs to get the surgery that will help her walk again,’ Ms Panda’s charity page said.
‘Doctors have also stated that time is of the essence – the longer Sam stays in Bali, the higher the risk that these debilitating injuries are irreversible.’
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Panda said: ‘(Finns Beach Club) told me I was insured but the evacuation and medical costs overseas I will be paying out of my own pocket’.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Panda (pictured) said: ‘(Finns Beach Club) told me I was insured but the evacuation and medical costs overseas I will be paying out of my own pocket’
The GoFundMe page set up for Ms Panda said she needed $40,000 in order to fly to Singapore or Taiwan, where there were ‘specialist surgeons experienced enough to deal with this complex case’
The aerialist and body contortionist broke her neck and seriously damaged her spinal cord when she fell head first from a ring four metres above the ground
Finns Beach Club confirmed to Daily Mail Australia Ms Panda was under its employ at the time of her horrific fall.
The club, owned by Mr Smith, said its employees were covered by insurance which entitled them to receive medical care in Bali ‘at leading international hospitals’.
The club told Daily Mail Australia the insurance did not cover medical evacuations nor medical expenses overseas.
‘We respect and support Sam’s decision to choose medical treatment outside of Bali and wish her a smooth and speedy recovery,’ it said.
Finns Beach Club confirmed to Daily Mail Australia Ms Panda (pictured) was under its employ at the time of her horrific fall
‘There was a failure in the rigging equipment. I was in the middle of an aerial hoop performance when the cable released and I fell to the ground head first,’ she said
The GoFundMe page set up for Ms Panda said she needed $40,000 in order to fly to Singapore or Taiwan, where there were ‘specialist surgeons experienced enough to deal with this complex case’.
Ms Panda reached out to her friends to tell them what happened following the horrific incident.
‘There was a failure in the rigging equipment. I was in the middle of an aerial hoop performance when the cable released and I fell to the ground head first,’ she said.
Ms Panda went on to say how serious her injuries were and how in need of treatment she was.
‘I am hospitalised at the moment. I am not paralysed and can move my arms and legs, but I also cannot walk yet (spine can’t support my weight, plus I’m pretty weak and woozy),’ she said.
Ms Panda went on to say how serious her injuries were and how in need of treatment she was
‘Time is of the essence at this point and I need to get out of Indonesia for proper treatment.
‘We are working on that now. Every day we wait, the swelling increases and causes more weaknesses in my spine.’
Ms Panda told Daily Mail Australia she was flown to Taiwan on Wednesday after 12 days in Bali, where she claimed her condition deteriorated rapidly.
‘The surgeons in Taiwan have a lot of work to do… for a full recovery,’ she said.
Finns Beach Club said the club was paying for medical care Ms Panda needed in Bali, and it was in communication with her and her family
Despite this, the club was inundated with messages from critics who called for the club or its owner Tony Smith to front costs for Ms Panda’s medical evacuation
Since footage of Ms Panda’s fall went viral, Finns Beach Club has been inundated with criticism.
People called for the club or its owner Tony Smith to front costs for Ms Panda’s medical evacuation out of good will.
‘The owner of this place should be ashamed. Nothing much you can really do at this point to avoid the backlash from not taking proper care of that girl,’ one man said.
‘Disgraceful attitude towards employees and the well-being of others. I hope that you do the right thing for Sam eventually. Shame on you,’ a second critic said.
People called for the club or its owner Tony Smith to front costs for Ms Panda’s (pictured) medical evacuation out of good will