An Australian man has relived the devastating moment he told his friend he had lost his leg after he was dragged under a truck for 15 metres in a horror crash in Thailand.
James Bailey, from Brisbane, gripped Harry Cross’ hand and told him not to speak as he lay motionless in a hospital bed at a Thai medical centre last week.
‘I said, ”do you know you’ve been in a crash?” I felt a squeeze. Then I said, ”do you know you’ve lost your leg” and I got a squeeze. I don’t think I’ve done anything harder in my life,’ Mr Bailey told Nine.com.au.
‘I was even the one who had to make the call to his family. You can imagine how difficult that was. It’s something I never want to do again.’
An Australian man has relived the devastating moment he told his friend he had lost his leg after he was dragged under a truck for 15 metres in a horror crash in Thailand
James Bailey, from Brisbane, gripped Harry Cross’ (pictured) hand and told him not to speak as he lay motionless in a hospital bed at a Thai medical centre last week
Moments after Mr Cross squeezed his friend’s hand, he had a tube removed from his throat and replied: ‘At least I am alive’.
The English tourist was on his motorbike when he was hit by truck and dragged along a road in Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok.
‘At the moment his injuries are pretty horrific… They weren’t able to save his leg so it’s been amputated above the knee,’ he said.
Mr Bailey said his friend’s hip socket had also been shattered – an injury the third-world hospital didn’t have the resources to repair.
He also suffered internal bleeding, has fluid on his lungs and several broken ribs.
Mr Cross is now stable enough to be able to be transported to Bangkok, but is waiting in excruciating pain for an ICU bed to become available.
Mr Cross’ mangled motorbike is pictured under a truck after the horror smash
They weren’t able to save his leg so it’s been amputated above the knee,’ Mr Cross’ friend said
The UK man’s motorcycle was legally registered and an insurance policy covers a small percentage of his medical bills, which are expected to total over $40,000.
But he didn’t have any travel insurance and is quickly running out of money to cover the hospital costs and the gruelling rehabilitation process ahead.
‘He is not looking for a hand out, he is merely looking for some support,’ reads a GoFundMe page set up to help Mr Cross and his family.
‘Bear in mind that past the medical bills there is going to be a huge journey ahead for him, with the need for a prosthetic leg down the track and learning to walk again.
‘So your money will help with everything, will show him how much he means to everyone and that there is good in the world.’
Mr Bailey said his friend’s hip socket had also been shattered – an injury the third-world hospital didn’t have the resources to repair
The English tourist was on his motorbike when he was hit by truck and dragged along a road in Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok