Australian man’s anguish after his father ended up a quadriplegic in Bali

A devastated Australian man whose father was paralysed overseas has given a chilling travel warning for Bali-bound tourists after his own nightmare experience. 

Jason Warren and his wife Becky made an urgent dash to Bali last week following the news his Rodney Grant, 63, will spend the rest of his life a quadriplegic after a freak accident in his hotel room.

‘In the early hours of Thursday, November 8, dad got out of bed to get a drink, and a short time later my mum heard a loud bang in their hotel room,’ Mr Warren told Daily Mail Australia.

‘She got up to investigate and then found dad on the floor unable to move or talk in a pool of blood from a wound to the back of his head.’ 

Rodney Grant (pictured) is now a quadriplegic after a recent accident in Bali – his son is desperate to raise awareness about the importance of thorough travel insurance

Mr Warren said his mother urgently called hotel reception who organised an ambulance, which arrived a short time later.

‘My mum is a former registered nurse and she noted the ambulance handled him quite roughly. The nearby medical centre recommended dad be conveyed to Kasih Ibu Hospital in Saba, about 40 minutes away,’ he explained.

‘But before mum was allowed to leave, she was required to pay $200 for medical supplies including antiseptic, rubber gloves and cotton buds and balls.

‘It seems medical care in Bali is all about money, not patient care.’ 

Panic then set in for the Warren family as the reality of Mr Grant’s life-changing circumstances hit home.  

‘I was overcome with a numb sensation and began physically pinching myself to ensure this wasn’t a dream,’ Mr Warren, a father of three and train driver, said.

‘It quickly became apparent this was real, dad was in real trouble.

‘All I could hear was my aging mum on the phone saying she won’t be able to handle it here alone.

‘We had to be on the next available flight.’

Rodney Grant (pictured left), Bec Warren, Jason Warren and his mother Brenda at Bec and Jason's wedding this year

Rodney Grant (pictured left), Bec Warren, Jason Warren and his mother Brenda at Bec and Jason’s wedding this year

Before jetting off to Indonesia, Mr Warren notified his father’s brother Clarrie about the accident.

The trio then made their way to Bali, making a bee-line for the Kasih Ibu General Hospital in Saba.

They were informed Rodney, who married Mr Warren’s mother Brenda a few years ago, had a break in the C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck, severing his spinal cord.

A doctor was prepared to perform surgery – for $30,000.  

‘When we arrived Dad was conscious, but in extreme pain due to being paralysed from the neck down,’ Mr Warren said.

‘A local doctor wanted to perform the surgery on Friday, November 9, and we had to fight very hard for this not to happen.

Rodney Grant (pictured left) with his great grandson Jaxson recently on the NSW south coast

Rodney Grant (pictured left) with his great grandson Jaxson recently on the NSW south coast

‘Once the enormity of everything set in for Dad, he tried to commit suicide by holding his breath – his heart rate slowed and blood pressure dropped, he almost died.

‘Mum called out to the nurses to do something – they were playing on their mobile phones before they finally decided to intervene.’

Mr Warren, his wife Becky and uncle Clarrie Grant managed to bring Rodney home – on Monday in a private jet, before he was transferred to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.

‘This incident has shown how fragile life is,’ he said. ‘I would also recommend people always get top shelf travel insurance when they are overseas, it is usually around $50 to $100 extra, which could make all the difference in the end.

‘Rodney had travel insurance with Insureandgo – their call centre is based in the Philippines, so at times communication has been difficult – but ultimately they were caring and professional.

‘The main thing I’ve learnt out of this whole episode is to always find a way to be  transported back to our wonderful country if you need urgent medical treatment, it has to be the only way.’            
 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk