British backpacker, 24, is stranded in a Thai hospital and may never walk again after breaking her neck while diving into a swimming pool one week into her six month trip
Published: 13:47 GMT, 16 December 2018 | Updated: 17:31 GMT, 16 December 2018
A British backpacker has been stranded in Thailand after breaking her neck in a diving accident – and may never be able to walk again.

Sophie Wilson, 24, misjudged the depth of a swimming pool a week into her dream six month trip to the Southeast Asian country.

She was rescued from drowning and rushed to hospital, fearing she was paralysed. After the 'touch and go' journey Miss Wilson from Shepshed, Leicestershire, received the news, she would be expected to pay tens of thousands for treatment.

But Miss Wilson's insurers, Insure and Go, will not cover the cost to fly her home with the medical care she needs and her family from Leicestershire are trying to raise £60,000.

Right now, her bill stands at £37,600, iNews reported after the accident on December 1.

Miss Wilson, who managed a coffee shop in the UK, said she may never be able to walk again despite having two surgeries. She is now able to move just one arm.

She told iNews: 'Initially I was in shock, I never had any reason to believe the pool to have been so shallow as people were jumping and diving in before me. I never lost consciousness.

Despite staff finding two breaks in her neck surgeons would not operate until her family guaranteed to pay for the surgery. The bill is expected to reach £60,000.

An insurance representative came to the hospital and told her she would not be paid out because it was deemed her injuries came after a 'reckless act'.

Sophie's sister 25, began a fundraising page for her.

She wrote: 'Sophie is one of the bravest women you could ever wish to meet and she is our little miracle. Our wish now is to get her home as soon as is physically possible, so that she can begin her rehabilitation programme to support the recovery process and be re-united with her loving family, after what has been the most challenging time of our lives.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -neck.html

This is a big reason not to have insurance.

Insurance companies dont always pay out.

They might pay out on this one now it is creating bad publicity.

I think this may be the exception rather than the norm

I dived into a shallow pool when I was 8yo. Hit my head.

Love and learn.

snookie BRO wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:56 pm I think this may be the exception rather than the norm

I know of other situations where insurance companies have not done the right thing morally, in order to increase company profit.

Recklessnes is a legal out for insurers.
It is behavior that a prudent person would not do
Like diving into water without knowing there are no hazards

How many go fund me's have there been cos tourists had accident and no travel insurance?

It's one of those things you're buggered if you do, but more importantly more buggered if u don't.

frank lee bent wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:11 pm Recklessnes is a legal out for insurers.
It is behavior that a prudent person would not do
Like diving into water without knowing there are no hazards

I remember a few years back on the Gold Coast of Australia where a pensioner couple went overseas for a holiday, and while they were gone the kids next door had a party. One of the kids came onto the pensioners property and dived into the canal and broke their neck becoming paralyzed.
No insurance would pay out so they sued the old pensioners for not having a sign up saying No Diving Allowed

The kid won the case in court and was awarded millions , Not sure how the appeal went but still cost the pensioners heaps in legal fees.

frank lee bent wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:11 pm Recklessnes is a legal out for insurers.
It is behavior that a prudent person would not do
Like diving into water without knowing there are no hazards

To be fair, it was a swimming pool, not uncharted waters. And she says that others had dived in before her. It was hardly reckless, but a bit stupid not to check the depth before diving headfirst. Always dive shallow first time. One bad decision.

explorer wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 10:08 am This is a big reason not to have insurance.

Here's some free relevant and effective insurance. Courtesy of Canadian Red Cross

Note I'm not attempting to be flippant here, with respect to the accident, think of this as a brief intervention!

In familiar and unfamiliar water, always enter feet first, the first time to be sure of the water depth and be aware of any hazards. Diving headfirst into water should be avoided unless the individual is properly trained and certain that the water is deep enough.

Most in-ground home and hotel pools, even those fitted with a diving board, are unsafe for diving, particularly for adult males. The deep end is often too short and the diver can strike his head on the slope of the pool leading up toward the shallow end.

Avoid alcohol when swimming or diving-even small amounts can increase the risk of injury.