Cynthia Busuttil
Injured woman in Cambodian nightmare
Lisa Gatt (left) with her sister Lia.
The family of a 25-year-old woman are desperately trying to bring her back to Malta for treatment after she was badly injured in a traffic accident in Cambodia.
Lisa Gatt, a call centre worker from Marsascala, was riding pillion on a motorcycle last Tuesday when the accident happened.
"When she called home after the accident she said she had heard a loud noise and then everything went black," her sister, Lia, said.
Unconscious, the young woman was taken to a nearby clinic where she woke up some hours later in extreme pain.
"Her femur (thigh) bone is broken and one of her hands is so swollen that she can barely see her fingers," the distraught sister said.
The victim, who turns 26 in June, left for Cambodia in November to join a friend who was trekking in the South Asian country but the two later went their separate ways.
Having travelled without taking out an insurance policy, the young woman is now facing hefty medical bills. Surgery to pin her thigh bone back in place came with a €2,000 price tag, which her family had to borrow and wire over to her.
"She is in a small clinic in a rural village and we wanted to fly her to a military hospital in Bangkok. But just the helicopter ride would have cost €15,000 and another €10,000 for the surgery," her sister said.
The family is now appealing for help to fly the young woman back to Malta.
Writing on a Facebook page created specially to raise money to bring the young woman home, Lia Gatt wrote that her sister was in high spirits following the operation even though she was awake during the whole procedure.
"She saw everything that was happening to her, miskina (poor girl) and she also felt the pulls and tugs on her leg and could feel them drilling and banging on her bone. She tried to call out to tell them that she was still awake but was unable to make a sound," she wrote, adding that this probably meant the anaesthetic had not worked.
The young woman is still in severe pain, with her sister saying she "screams in agony" when they speak to her over the phone.
"We need to get her to Malta and admit her to hospital here to make sure she gets the proper treatment and avoid infections," she said.
But the young woman will need to be transported on a stretcher since she cannot move her leg, pushing up the price for a plane ticket.
"She has no control over her leg and will have to travel on a stretcher. We are in contact with airlines to try and find a way of getting her back to Malta," Lia Gatt said.
The girls' father is expected to travel to Cambodia as soon as arrangements are made to be with his daughter and help bring her home.
The family has asked for help from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which, since Malta does not have an embassy in Cambodia, has asked for the British authorities' assistance. Lia Gatt said the British Embassy had sent someone to check on her sister.
"Lisa did not get travel insurance before she left. She left in a hurry and was unaware of the dangers. She made a mistake as many others do and let this be a lesson to everyone. Let's raise the awareness so it does not happen again," her sister wrote.
Lia Gatt can be contacted on liagatt@hotmail.com.
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paul poh
Apr 16th 2009, 07:06
I am sorry to read about this unfortunate news.
Pls allowed me to tell my personal experience and the
real situation in Cambodia.
I am from Singapore and every month I travel to Cambodia and Vietnam
for work, I sometimes help in the RC churches in Phnom Penh & Kampot province.
Regarding Cambodia this country is not as "backward" as what people thought
if you have visited Cambodia esp Phnom Penh you will know what I mean.
In Phnom Penh, the captial city, there is the Calmette hospital the biggest
local hospital but with French & other EU doctors working there who volunteer
their time.
These doctors are providing better medical care for the local people and
foreigners working there.
What I am saying is the medical care in this hospital is comparable to
the govt hospital in Thailand.
I am not sure which province hospital this young lady is being warded.
My suggestion is to transfer her to Calmette hospital for treatment and when
she is in a better condition to fly back to Malta for proper medical care.
I wished her speedy recovery.
Cheers
Paul
Julie Peace
Apr 13th 2009, 22:26
This story made my stomach turn.....that poor girl, she must be feeling like she will never see home again. Yes, she should have got insurance, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I had a similar injury following an accident in a lift in a hotel in Qawra. I had metalwork inserted following an operation at St Philips (I can't speak highly enough of them or surgeon Mr Gatt). I know the pain I endured at the time and after, to think that poor girl was awake, makes me feel sick to her stomach. Please, could Air Malta bring her home, where she can be cared for.
mark tanti
Apr 13th 2009, 21:26
Why some people because of some expenses express themselves so inhuman ? Not only the govt. must help but all other organizations and any other citizen who might know well this country. This young girl is a Maltese citizen who needs help I do not mind if my share of taxes goes to help this young girl to be brought back to Malta. Her mistakes (from which we should learn) are irrelevant in the present situation. In such situation we must be united and urge our authorities to act immediately. I am sure that nobody goes abroad to get hurt so that the govt pays for his expenses.
My last comment goes to all frequent travellers especially to such countries Make sure to take all the medical treatment brfore leaving Malta because the health care in such countries is very poor and a holiday might end up in a tragedy even with a simple illness.
Franco J Scicluna
Apr 13th 2009, 20:18
Oh come on people! Listen to yourselves for a second! Is this how we deal with a nightmare scenario in Malta? By acting giddy? Criticism will surely not help and all these blackball comments are unbecoming of any people who call themselves civilised!! What, may I ask, is anyone going to solve by arguing pointlessly about illegal immigration and bills? Sure there are issues out there, scary ones with unhappy endings and broken hearths. I genuinely feel for all those who find themselves between a rock and a hard place and I wish you all good fates. However, why don’t we collectively concentrate on the real issue here. A friend, a daughter and a human being is in trouble. She is in pain, scared and in all probability defenceless. Helping out or not is entirely up to you. As many other have pointed out below, I am sure that Ms. Gatt has learnt her lesson. I for one will try and do what I can, however insignificant that might be, to help out. Honestly now. I wish you all find more consideration and help that this, should the fates deal out a similar turn of events to any of you.
C Falzon
Apr 13th 2009, 20:01
@Alfred Cassar, there is already a bank account where one can donate to the Red Cross to help with the repatriation. It is mentioned in anothr article on the times: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090413/local/red-cross-sending-team-to-cambodia-to-assist-maltese-girl It is BOV account number 10206374012 (please double check with the article do not take my word). The article mentions the Red Cross cancelling the rescue for some reason so I suppose that if that is the case the money collected would be given to the family to use for that purpose.
Alfred Cassar
Apr 13th 2009, 18:46
I dont think the Government should fork out the expenses involved to repatriate her. Some people seem to be suggesting that if anyone travels without insurance or if anyone does not insure his/her house, and an unfortunate accident happen, then the Government should pay for us all being careless. I fork out hundreds of euros when I travel, so what? I dont consider it waste of money. I also fork out hundreds to insure my house and my car, it's not waste of money either. So I dont expect the Govt to fork out the expenses in these cases. However I do agree that we all should help this girl and her family, I'm sure she's sorry for the mistake she's done. I suggest a member of her family opens a bank account and reports it to newspapers. We should show support and solidarity with each other, after all that's what real Christians should do. And please try not to politicize the issue.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 13th 2009, 18:28
@ E Azzopardi - I tend to agree with you. It was stupid to go abroad without any insurance policy - especially outside the EU and more particularly in a country in Asia. As others said before, it is useless crying over spilt milk. The authorities should leave no stone unturned to get this girl back, then, present her with the bill and ask her to pay it within a number of years. The public should not fork out this bill for an adventure-turned-badly. Look before you leap!
E. Azzopardi
Apr 13th 2009, 18:13
First things first. She should be helped by the government . Imagine having a daughter there on her own in hospital in this situation. Everybody would want help in this tragic situation. However, the people should not fork out the money in these instances because you cannot make precedents. The government can pay for everything but this has to be given back, even in installments. Having said that, why did she leave not knowing the dangers? You are not going to a nearby EU country for god's sake but Cambodia. And without insurance? At least it has been admitted that she did a mistake. I wish her good luck.
JAMES FORMOSA
Apr 13th 2009, 16:58
The Government must do everything to get her home now!!! She made a mistake...so what!! Do any of you fellow Maltese citizens want to amke her pay!!! We spend so much of our tax payers money on foreigners(illegal) in our country!!!! If Lisa was the daughter of a Member of Parliament or the President or one of the friend of firends do you think she'd still be there??? NO of course not. So just get her back- its the right thing to do.
K Serracino
Apr 13th 2009, 16:35
Travelling insurance is of paramount importance especially when travelling in these exotic destinations. If the authorities pay the expenses the client should then pay for the expenses incurred.
Travellers should assume their responsabilty and not shelving it on others and on the tax payers.
Lawrence Ellul
Apr 13th 2009, 15:23
Whilst I acknowledge that she needs help, one cannot expect the government to provide help.
There is no excuse why she did not have a travel insurance, especially being in such a county and for such a long period of time.
r ferriggi
Apr 13th 2009, 15:10
for ANYONE to think or say ( at this stage) things like '' she should have done this and she should have done that'' is to say the least,,,,,, thoughtless..... if not heartless. the authorities should DO ANYTHING possible and AT ALL COSTS to get this compatriot back to malta. NO QUESTIONS ASKED or arguments at this stage. one should ask: if it was my brother/sister/ mother/father/son or daughter,,,,, what would i want?? are we not Christian/Catholic/believers/civilised or what!?!?
Mark Roberts
Apr 13th 2009, 14:26
No I don't see why she should be bailed out and expences paid for by the government or general public. She should have had the maturity to take out insurance! she would have been told of the importance of medical insurance at the time of booking her flight as it is general procedure!
Paul Borg
Apr 13th 2009, 14:19
Back in 2005 me and my friend had an accident while on holiday in Brazil. My friend almost drowned in Niteroi (RJ) and had to spend 5 days in hospital.....thank God we had an insurance. We should help her
Ivan Cutajar
Apr 13th 2009, 10:52
Recently I had a car accident in Kiev, I was crossing the zebra when a car didn't stop. I have ended in hospital. I can tell you hospitals in Ukraine are nightmare. I didn't got Gov or the Times to help me. If she when for a Holiday she should had medical insurance, and taking the risk from November till April is not a joke and in Cambodia. If someone make a mistake not sending a VAT return he get fined.
JP Stivala
Apr 13th 2009, 10:40
Yes, the government should help in some way or another. Be open minded, think outside the box, so much could be done. Power to the people. Help Lisa now. Do something...
Denise Vella
Apr 13th 2009, 10:23
@ Peter Bonnici
No-one would suggest that insurance companies are charitable institutions.
However, they do not sell ordinary commodities and the nature of their business should make them subject to strict scrutiny by the relevant Regulator. People are often actually obliged to purchase insurance, eg home loan cover. It is high time that a close look is taken at what appears to be uncompetitive practices among local insurers. Furthermore, how is a health risk ascertained by the insurers' doctors and how fair are the exclusions and hikes in premiums when some so-called 'risks' are present? The commonest excuse for a hefty increase in life and health policy premiums is a hint of hypertension, when everyone knows that subjection to a medical examination frequently causes a person to register a little increase in blood pressure, which returns to perfectly normal once that person leaves the surgery. It is not at all surprising that people are unfortunately tempted not to buy exorbitantly priced holiday and other insurance when they are not under the obligation to do so.
Josette Cardona
Apr 13th 2009, 01:18
@Joe Fenech
"What? Is the government going to start assisting financially all the people who have accidents during their leisure time? Come on, let's be serious!!!!!!!"....
Dear Mr. Fenech, you should be ashamed of yourself to pass such a comment in this kind of situation. We're talking about a human being, who has feelings and needs help instantly. If it was your daughter or your sister, Im sure that you would so anything... you would take extreme measures to make sure she has a safe return back home. Please at least show respect to Lisa's family and closest friends as this moment.... again... you should be ashamed of yourself....
Mario Martinelli
Apr 13th 2009, 00:37
Most comment that Lisa should have had a health insurance, but the fact is that now she hasn't. Lets put up our sleeves and try to help financially. We Maltese are caring people and have helped other people several times. (Tsunami, Albania etc...) Why don't her parents or anyone who has the know how, try to create a bank account in local banks as soon as possible and thus report the event in this same newspaper to raise funds and help out such people in desperate need. After all, a local account might have been established for A'quila earthquake victims even though not Maltese, which is right too. SO LET'S DO OUR BEST AND HELP. WE CAN DEFINITELY DO IT!!!
Peter Bonnici
Apr 12th 2009, 23:51
@ Denise Vella
Insurance companies in Malta are in competition therefore the rates they charge reflect the level of risk involved, bearing in mind the competitive pressures. Insurers are not charitible institutions, they offer services at a price. If you don't like, u don't take.
@ Robert Agius. Don't jump to conclusions and compare insurance premia with other travellers worldwide. You need to compare the policy to know precisely what you are covered for. You will also have to consider, for instance, that the cost to bring back an injured person to Malta would cost a Maltese insurer much more that it would cost a British insurer to pay for the return of a Briton to the UK. Then again If you feel you are being ripped off then perhaps you can take a leaf out of Lisa's book and travel without it.
@ JP Stivala. When you say local authorities, you mean the government, therefore us taxpayers don't you?
The government will be wrong to set a precedent here.
Sandro Agius
Apr 12th 2009, 21:55
The Goverment must do something to help this Maltese citizen. It is his moral duty to help those Maltese citizens who are in trouble as other EU countries do
Maruska Agius
Apr 12th 2009, 20:28
@Joe Fenech
What's wrong in assisting our fellow maltese citizens? Mela sewwa!! We finance all the time illegal immigrants, but we should not help a Maltese in need!!! Ara veru Malta m'hawn hadd sew ta!!
carmel pule
Apr 12th 2009, 20:17
After losing his wife, my colleague, an ex British army sergeant went to Cambodia and from disused water pipes, he made communal showers where local workmen could wash before they went home.He gave all his sleeping bags and foam mattresses to the locals as he moved on to other places. A middle aged cambodian lady often told him how proud she was to help her family after depositing $15 a month in her bank after walking a distance of 25 miles return trip.
I recommend sincerely that the local Maltese authorities would help Lisa Gatt being a Maltese citizen, without questions, but Lisa would eventually pay back 10% of all the costs incurred. We all must learn to be responsible and perhaps our own students should be asked to pay 10% of their educational costs/fees. We all must learn how our freedom may affect others and so we must care before taking more than average risks in our life.
JP Stivala
Apr 12th 2009, 19:28
I hope Lisa gets all the help she needs and arrives home safe as soon as possible. Furthermore, I hope the local authorities are using our tax money to help Maltese people in such unfortunate situations.
Joe Fenech
Apr 12th 2009, 19:25
What? Is the government going to start assisting financially all the people who have accidents during their leisure time? Come on, let's be serious!!!!!!!
Denise Vella
Apr 12th 2009, 11:22
@Robert Agius
You make a valid point Robert. Insurance -of all types- is very expensive in Malta and local
insurers are extremely risk-averse. For instance, life cover for mortgage purposes is a lucrative captive market which the MFSA as regulator should be looking closely at. The slightest hint of hypertension or overweight results in hefty and I suspect arbitrary increases in premiums. Shopping around for a less outrageous deal yields little joy, such is the level of tacit collusion among the insurers. The same applies to health and travel insurance, where the list of exclusions is becoming longer than the cover. I wouldnt be surprised if poor Lisa had been refused insurance under some of these exclusions, or if she had just refused to be party to a raw deal.
P Muscat
Apr 12th 2009, 10:11
@ Robert Agius
Well in this case one is free to decide whether the insurance premium of Euros 250 would have been worth the expense or otherwise!
Now going to the resolving of this issue may I suggest that the family of Lisa contacts an International Assistance Agency specialised in repatriating travellers in similar difficult situations. Lisa could be repatriated probably in a few days on a commercial flight, true with some difficulties and subject to her medical consultant's green light.
Good luck!
edwin formosa
Apr 12th 2009, 09:11
May I suggest the Marsascala representatives in Parliament propose tangible immediate help the state can offer in this circumstance ? This is not a controversial issue.
J.Borg
Apr 12th 2009, 09:06
How about sparing some funds from the good cause fund...dear minister of finance?
or is this cause not good for political propoganda!!!!!
Anthony Mifsud Bonnici GIORDANI
Apr 12th 2009, 07:59
I understand that the family should help financially. If it was my daughter in such a bad situation, I would sell all my assets to get her back home the soonest possible. Begging others to raise money is not to my taste. One thing I would like to say regarding Thailand hospitals especially Bangkok BUMRUNGRAD hospital. Please note A.CINI that Bangkok BUMRUNGRAD hospital is equal in standard hospital as Mater Dei. Do not judge if you do not see with your own eyes. I was there and I am talking from the horses mouth. Anyone can check the sites below and make an opinion. http://www.bumrungrad.com/index.aspx and http://www.bumrungrad.com/overseas-medical-care/about-us/vdo.aspx
Maria Cronshaw
Apr 12th 2009, 02:43
Lisa is such a fun loving girl it's hard to think of her in such an awful situation. I hope she can get the help she needs and we see her back home safe and sound soon.
Joseph Calleja
Apr 11th 2009, 18:01
Please forget the insurance advise for the moment. As the Maltese saying goes " KIEKU WAQA U KISER SIIEQU " Lisa's family is asking for help. Maltese people are one of the most giving people on earth and they are always there in an emergency. Lisa needs to be brought home right away for medical care and try to avoid any foreseen complications. Please get in touch with her sister Lia and help the family bring Lisa home. Yes the government can act on this incident right away and make sure Lisa is getting the best of care. please keep Lisa and her family in your Easter prayers and try to support the family in any way you can. Hang in there Lisa......
Robert Agius
Apr 11th 2009, 17:02
I have been travelling for the past 6 months now and I can tell you i sometimes think of not paying my insurance. For all those mentioning that she should have got insurance please note that in Malta you have to pay about 250Euros for just 3 or 4 months. This is a lot of money especially when i meet people from other countries who pay a less than that for 12 months insurance. In Malta only NSTS insures for long period (but i had to find my own since they decided to take a break for some reason). So we don´t really have much choice. I also tried to book through many foriegn countries and was told I can´t get insurance since I am not from that country (all EU countries btw). This is what our Gov. should be concerned about. Please note that I had to pay the highest insurance from ALL the people I met so far. Malta is really special indeed!!!
one last thing. Insurance is what is making all hospitals (and everything else for that matter) so expensive in the 1st place.
Josette Cardona
Apr 11th 2009, 16:18
@ C Buttigieg
thanks for your comment. Im one of Lisa's closest friends, and the last thing I want to hear at the point is people commented about the insurance issue. Everyone should think in the present, what must be done now, and she has to be here asap... she is in severe pain as we speak...
thanks for all of you who are keeping LISA in their prayers... pray so that she'll return back with us safely... I cant wait to see her again....
God Bless
C Buttigieg
Apr 11th 2009, 15:23
Considering how much money is spent on rescuing immigrants and other people from tragic circumstaces, I believe that this poor girl should be on the way home right now. She is a Maltese citizen and when in need, money should be the last concern for the government. I am sure that getting her home will not bankrupt the country. She has suffered a serious enough trauma without the fear that her country has abandoned her in this time of need. One question to all those who are commenting about the insurance. Of course she should have taken medical insurance but what if it was your daughter? Would you expect everyone to shrug their shoulders and say that it's her fault???
Charles Sammut
Apr 11th 2009, 14:44
Riding motorcycles in SE Asia is suicidal. Accidents to motorcyclists happen all the time and usually, the victim get thrown in the back of a pickup truch and dumped at the nearest clinic/hospital. It is horrific.
Kenneth Galea
Apr 11th 2009, 13:20
I feel for this girl because she must be very scared thousands of miles away from her family.
Adventure can be very exciting and lures young people especially to go travelling. Countries like Cambodia are still recovering from civil war, one has no chance in hell to get assistance when emergencies crop up or resources are very limited. Life in places like Cambodia is cheap and the service must be sub standard too.
C Chircop
Apr 11th 2009, 13:10
Anybody who has been to Cambodia knows that despite being a lovely country, it has poor facilities all round. Trust me, it's wild out there, and one should not trust their medical facilites!
My thoughts are with Lisa and her family. She erred in not taking travel insurance, but the important thing is that she is given appropriate medical care (as mentioned, Bangkok is the best option and within proximity) and eventually returns to Malta safe and sound.
Josette Cardona
Apr 11th 2009, 12:57
its true she didnt have any insurance, but its useless commenting about this now. The most important thing now is to get Lisa back home, asap so that she will get the treatment that she needs. Please remember her in your thoughts and prayers.
Happy Easter!
J.Cini
Apr 11th 2009, 12:53
Come on Maltese Government, a lot of money is spent rendering medical and other assistance to non-Maltese in trouble; now it's one of our own, far from home and she needs urgent assistance. She needs to return home, now. Medical attention in Thailand for Westerners is primitive, at best.
John Caruana
Apr 11th 2009, 12:44
Yes, she did learn her lesson, however, all of you who is travelling outside the EU, kindly make sure to make a health insurance apart from just travel insurance which has limited health insurance, if any.
Dave Monkman
Apr 11th 2009, 12:42
It's easy to be wise after the event. Of course Lisa should have taken out health Insurance for a holiday of this nature, but the blunt fact is she didn't, and I, for one, cannot help but feel sympathy for her and her family (who I know).
Adrian Cardona
Apr 11th 2009, 12:12
@Criss Camilleri
I think she's learnt the lesson by now...no need to rub it in.
CHRISTOPHER PACE
Apr 11th 2009, 12:06
Anyone who is going abroad for a long time, and what's more on an adventure trip with all the added dangers that this brings, MUST take out a health insurance policy. I mean, it's crazy, the girl has enough money to finance a long adventurous trip abroad (and what's more presumably not earning any income on the trip, which augurs well for the girl's financial means, I guess),but then does not take a basic measure such as writing out a health insurance policy.