Bride and groom-to-be are dealt another devastating blow just months after a moped accident during a buck’s party in Bali forced them to cancel their wedding
- Ashley Hickman, 32, still in hospital three month after near-fatal crash in Bali
- Surgical complications mean he will stay in hospital for at least another month
- Scooter crash in Bali left him fighting for life a week before he was due to marry
- His fiancee Tam has moved to the other side of the country to stay by his side
A bride-to-be who was forced to call off her wedding after her fiance was critically injured in a moped accident in Bali is now dealing with another devastating setback.
Cairns tradie Ashley Hickman, then 32, is still recovering from a fractured skull in Royal Perth Hospital, three months after the August 31 accident in Kuta during his buck’s party.
He was still in an induced coma a week later on the day he was due to marry his long time sweetheart Tam Matthews in far north Queensland.
Ms Matthews has since relocated to the other side of the country to be with her fiance, whose slow progress was recently hampered by surgical complications.
Ashley Hickman (pictured with his fiancee Tam) is still recovering in a Perth hospital
The titanium plate inserted in his skull had to be removed due to an infection, which has extended Mr Hickman’s stay in hospital, where he remains on bed rest.
‘He was ready to be discharged on November 20 but will be spending a bit more time in hospital as the plate can’t go back in until next year,’ Ms Matthews told the Cairns Post.
‘We’re just waiting on medical clearance for him to be able to walk again, hoping that he’ll have the plate back in January.’
Her fiance remains positive and is taking everything one day at a time, despite the latest complications.
Ashley was due to marry his partner of eight years Tam Matthews a week after the crash
Ashley Hickman spent five weeks in an induced coma (pictured) after a scooter crash in Kuta
‘He is managing everything quite well. He has lost almost all use of his left hand and has been working really hard in rehab and modifying the way he does things so that he doesn’t need to rely on others,’ Ms Matthews said.
She had been at her wedding dress fitting back in Australia a week before her big day when she received the heartbreaking call that her fiancee was fighting for life after he crashed into a building.
Mr Hickman also required a plate inserted in his collar bone, suffered a broken elbow and lost all hearing in his left ear, which is yet to be repaired.
Currently confined to a wheelchair, Mr Hickman has discharged from hospital for day outings, including a recent fishing trip at a Perth beach.
Mr Hickman woke up with amnesia five weeks after the accident.
Tam Matthews has moved from Cairns to the other side of country to be with her fiance (pictured before the crash) as his slow road to recovery continues
Ashley’s (pictured in October) progress was recent hampered by surgical complications
A GoFundMe Page set up by his sister Brooke after Mr Hickman’s accident has raised $34,000, less than half the $75,000 target.
The funds raised don’t cover the $50,000 medical bill to transport Mr Hickman back to Australia a week after the accident while he was still in a coma.
The travel insurance he had didn’t cover rising medical costs because he did not have a motorbike licence.
‘Its been just over five weeks since Ashley’s accident and he has now been moved into intensive rehab,’ the latest GoFundMe update in October read.
‘He is slowly progressing and is now in the post traumatic amnesia stage and has a long journey ahead.
‘As Ashley gets stronger we are going to reunite him with this beloved dog Chico to assist with his therapy. The costs are still increasing with relocation.’
Ashley recently enjoyed a fishing trip when he was discharged from hospital for the day