Cynthia Busuttil
Cambodia woman to start journey home
Lisa Gatt, the 25-year-old seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Cambodia, should start her journey back to Malta today, The Times has learnt.
Eating a packet of Twistees, delivered by a paramedic team from the Malta Red Cross, the young woman was in good spirits yesterday, Natal Falzon, a member of the organisation said.
"If all goes well, we will start the journey to Bangkok where the Thai Red Cross will assist us before getting on a plane back to Malta," he said, adding the next hurdle was trying to determine the logistics of getting Ms Gatt on the plane.
Speaking to The Times yesterday, Lisa's sister Lia said the team was expected to drive the 16-odd hours to Bangkok.
"It is such a relief to know there are Maltese people with her. We are so excited and happy. I can't wait to hug her," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
Ms Gatt broke her thigh bone in an accident two weeks ago and was operated upon in a small Cambodian clinic, where she has been recovering. The team reached here yesterday and were in the process of examining her before her release.
Last week the Malta Red Cross was forced to cancel its plans to send paramedics to Cambodia because it could not at first make contact with the national Red Cross society in the Asian country.
However, the team left on Saturday after obtaining assistance from the International Red Cross. Arrangements were made to keep the injured traveller under observation at the clinic until the paramedics' arrival.
Ms Gatt was riding pillion on a motorcycle on April 7 when she was involved in the accident. Unconscious, she was taken to a nearby clinic and woke up some hours later in extreme pain.
She had been travelling in Cambodia since November but did not take out an insurance policy and was faced with hefty medical expenses. Surgery to pin her thigh bone back in place cost €2,000.
Lia Gatt yesterday said some €9,000 have been raised following appeals for help and thanked people for their generosity and support.
The family was now looking into the possibility of setting up a foundation to help travellers who find themselves in trouble.
Donations can be made directly at the Red Cross offices at 104, St Ursula Street, Valletta, at Room 6, University of Malta, Xewkija, or in Bank of Valletta account number 10206374012.
8 Comments
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Mario Martinelli
Apr 21st 2009, 22:34
PROSIT RED CROSS MALTA and a VERY WARM WELCOME BACK HOME LISA.
Good idea if family Gatt would try to set up a foundation to help travellers.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
Take care
c.camilleri
Apr 21st 2009, 15:28
I hope that this will serve as a lesson to all those who intend to have an adventure in far east countries without thinking about the consequences. Traveling in these countries is already a risky and dangerous undertaking not least because of the constant danger of kidnapping. Going there without an insurance policy adds to the risks involved.
Charles Micallef
Apr 21st 2009, 15:13
While we hope that Lisa is back with her family soon and augur that she will have a full and speedy recovery, the advise must be that if you cannot afford insurance cover do not travel to such far away places........................irrespective of how tempting the idea of travelling is!
Our thoughts must go to her family who must have been to hell and back waiting for the outcome...............
Peter Aquilina
Apr 21st 2009, 13:08
A holiday/ adventure that may soon be discussed on one of our particular local TV programmes by which the protagonist hopes to reach a desired level of popularity and "stardom". Taking opportunity from such "adventure" is indeed a brilliant idea !
In the meantime, it is hoped for, that travellers stay sensible to pay those few extra Euros in insurance cover before going abroad ............. unless there is a concept of a Mediterranean Bollywood !!
j scerri
Apr 21st 2009, 12:14
@ mr Camilleri....
Do you know that the maximum insurance policy you can take in Malta is 6mths?
I am fed up of everyone criticising Lisa when a small percentage knows what problems there are for the adventurous traveller.
Maybe you are one that travel aa couple of times a year for a few days and just pat a couple of Euros not hundreds of Euros if you stay 6months less than a day!
I hope from here that the MFSA takes note and improve things, because when I asked a local insurer to take an overseas policy for me, he told me that they must abide the rules.
Are we European or not? In my opinion still second class citizens
Martin Cardona
Apr 21st 2009, 10:36
So now it would seem fair that all money donated from the public should be given th the Red Cross, as these proceeds were initially collected to bring Lisa to Malta by relatives.
Vincent Galea
Apr 21st 2009, 10:15
The end contains the beginning : ))
A. Camilleri
Apr 21st 2009, 09:47
I have read and heard all about the tragic incident, but my question still remains unanswered: why should we, the general public, pay for the carelessness and irresponcibilities of people who travel overseas without taking out an insurance cover? Without entering into the assistance extended to Lisa, which one cannot but agree has been, as always, praiseworthy, similar requests should not be placed on the doorstep of the public. Prevention is better than cure should be the guideline of travellers going overseas. Nothwithstanding, we look forward to having Lisa back in Malta, and back to a healthy life.