Joanna Ingram, a British woman, has finally returned to the UK after being stranded in Thailand for over two months due to a serious horse riding accident that resulted in her breaking her back in three places. The incident occurred while she was vacationing with her husband Stuart, having traveled to Southeast Asia in February for a two-week holiday that included time on the beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui. Their trip took a turn for the worse when, on March 8, Joanna fell from a horse during a pony trek in Krabi.
Joanna recalled the moment of the accident, stating that her memory is unclear, but she remembers being on the horse one moment and then on the ground the next. Initially, she thought she had merely winded herself despite experiencing significant pain. After managing to sit on a log, she was unable to move due to the discomfort. The pony trek staff assisted her into a vehicle and transported her back to her hotel.
Once there, Stuart called for an ambulance, and Joanna was quickly taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had sustained three fractures to her spine. “Me and Stuart were both terrified,” Joanna shared with SWNS. “We didn’t know if I’d be able to walk or move again, or if we’d be able to get home. I went into emergency surgery, and thankfully, I do have full movement, which is an absolute miracle.”
Despite the surgery, Joanna’s travel insurance provider, JOURNY, refused to cover her medical expenses, categorizing horse riding as a “high risk” activity. Consequently, the couple was left to shoulder the entire £60,000 medical bill. “It’s our life savings, it’s such a ridiculous amount of money,” Joanna lamented.
After spending three weeks in the hospital, Joanna moved to a hotel to recuperate until she was fit to fly. Unfortunately, her recovery took another hit as she contracted dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection that left her with severe symptoms. “At times, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to pull through,” she recalled.
Eventually, after 11 weeks in Thailand, Joanna and Stuart were able to return home in May. “I can’t describe how it felt to finally be going home, there was so much relief and excitement at finally being able to see family and friends again,” she expressed.
Currently, Joanna is using a walking frame but is optimistic about making a full recovery within the next three to six months. In light of their financial burden, friends and family established a GoFundMe page, which has successfully raised £19,000 to assist with her medical costs. “We can’t believe the generosity of people that have contributed, it’s down to them that we’ve been able to get the funds to get home,” Joanna added.
JOURNY has been approached for a comment regarding the situation.
Source: Manchester Evening News
