A 23-year-old British man has been left in a coma after a motorbike collision on the Thai island of Koh Samui on Sunday.
Tiger Duggan, originally from Milton Keynes, was travelling in Thailand when the crash occurred.
He had been living in Australia with his younger brother, River, 21, before the trip. He is now receiving treatment at MedPark Hospital in Bangkok.
His father, Kieron Duggan, has travelled to Thailand to be with him. “They said he’s brain dead… you’ve got to have hope,” he said.
The family said Tiger had purchased travel insurance prior to his trip, but a clause relating to motorbike use meant the policy does not cover the medical costs arising from the incident.
Mr Duggan said his son had been travelling around Thailand with a close friend to celebrate his birthday.
“They’d just been to the gym, they’d gone for lunch and Tiger was overtaking a car.”
“As he was overtaking a car, another bike – because it’s crazy out here – flew across the road, it threw him from the bike,” he said.
Emergency services spent 16 minutes resuscitating Tiger at the scene before taking him to a hospital in Koh Samui.
He was later transferred to Bangkok on Friday to receive specialist care. He was accompanied by his mother, Lisa Duggan, a neonatal nurse at Milton Keynes University Hospital, and his aunt.
“His poor friend has been there [at the hospital] every day,” Mr Duggan said.
The family said they have already spent more than £40,000 on medical fees and flights. Friends and relatives have since raised about £80,000 to help cover ongoing treatment and a potential transfer to Australia or the UK.
Tiger’s mother said colleagues had organised a fundraising appeal, with donations providing vital support.
“It’s such a great feeling, to see people raising money for Tiger,” Mr Duggan said. “People are praying for us.”
Describing his son, Mr Duggan said Tiger is “very clever and very smart”. “Everybody loves him,” he added.
Tiger’s brother River said the situation had yet to fully sink in.
“We live in Australia together, we live in the same house together, we do everything together – it really hasn’t hit me yet.”
“It’s worrying, like even being here, hearing what my parents are telling us and my brother’s friends, it’s really worrying.”
“I look up to him, he knows that as well, so it’s not the best place for me to see him.”
