A BRITISH man is “lucky” to have survived a moped crash with a tuk-tuk in Thailand that left his leg “hanging off”.
Lewis McClelland, 30, suffered multiple injuries – fractures in his wrist and fingers, cuts all over his face, and a major wound to his leg.
Lewis pictured moments after the horrific crash with the tuk-tukCredit: Kennedy News
The Brit has suffered multiple cuts to his face, requiring stitchesCredit: Kennedy News
He is facing a long recovery period in hospitalCredit: Kennedy News
Footage shows him lying on the ground with his left limb torn open after the collision in Ko Lanta.
“My leg was hanging off,” he recalled. “I’m still lucky to have my leg. My wrist snapped and two fingers snapped. I’ve got life-changing scars now all across my face.
“I pretty much ripped the bottom of my leg off to the point there was no pulse in my foot. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
Lewis added: “I’m very lucky to be alive. If they didn’t act so quickly I would’ve bled out. There was no way around it. It was a very, very close call.
“It’s a life-changing position for me. My face is lacerated and I’m quite a self-conscious person as it is.
“I don’t even know how long the healing process is.”
His nightmare is not over yet. Lewis is trapped in Thailand after his travel refused to cover the emergency surgery and flights home.
He claims that the Post Office told him that he did not hold a Compulsory basic training (CBT) certificate, required in the UK to ride a moped.
When he was hiring the bike, the tourist was only asked for his passport – there was no mention of such a certificate.
A GoFundme page set up by Lewis’ mother, Liza, is seeking to raise more than £20,000 to pay for the treatment and repatriation.
She wrote: “On January 26 he was supposed to come home. Instead, he is lying in a hospital bed in Thailand with devastating life changing injuries after a serious road accident.
“Lewis is lucky to have not lost his leg. He has suffered multiple open fractures to his leg, fractures in his wrist and fingers, and facial lacerations and has undergone major surgery and has to have another next week.
“He currently has an external fixator holding his leg together. He is in pain, and thousands of miles from home.”
She added: “Now we are facing the unthinkable. If I want to bring my son home safely, I have to pay for his medical bills and his repatriation myself.
“The cost is overwhelming. Depending on the level of medical support he needs, getting him home could cost anywhere between £15,000 and £40.000+. I am doing everything I can, but I cannot do this alone.”
More than £14,450 have been raised in the past week, but the family does not believe this will be enough.
Lewis who lives in , , arrived in Thailand on January 12 and was due to return on January 26.
He was travelling with a friend before starting his “dream job” as a window fitter back home when the tragedy happened.
Lewis was on a holiday with a friend in Thailand when the incident happenedCredit: Kennedy News
He was due to return home on January 26 but is still in hospitalCredit: Kennedy News
The Brit is now facing another operation and a long recovery period – as well as the whopping medical bill.
Lewis now hopes to spread awareness to other tourists to stop them from making the same grave mistake.
He said this was meant to be just a “relaxing trip” but turned into “such a nightmare.”
Sharing advice, he said: “Read the small print and make sure you have your license. [In Thailand] they’re willing to hire you bikes out here just off of a passport and not even whether I’d ridden a motorbike before.
“Just make sure you take your licence with you. How they’re doing it out here is not legal in the eyes of insurers. I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to hear about the injuries Mr McClelland has sustained whilst on holiday.
“Unfortunately, the information provided by Mr McClelland and his family confirms that Mr McClelland did not have the relevant licence for the vehicle they were operating and therefore he was not covered for the injuries sustained in the accident.
“We will continue to provide any assistance we can to support the family as they make arrangements to return to the UK.”
Lewis said he was “lucky” to be aliveCredit: SWNS
Lewis with his mother Liza TaylorCredit: SWNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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