An Australian tourist has been left fighting for life after suffering a catastrophic accident while on a dream holiday in Bali.
Brisbane woman Luca Loveday had been excited to spend some time on the Indonesian holiday island with her best friend, enjoying some much-needed relaxation and sunshine.
The 29-year-old was just a few days into her trip when the unthinkable happened.
Standing at a local restaurant, she suddenly started shaking and dropped to the floor, violently hitting her head on a table and then on the hard concrete below.
Luca is now fighting for her life in the ICU after suffering multiple brain bleeds, a fractured skull, and swelling of the brain, along with air in her brain, meaning she cannot fly home for the time being.
Her sister, Rikki Loveday, said her family rushed to Bali to be by her side during this traumatizing ordeal.
“This trip was something Luca had been really looking forward to,” Rikki told news.com.au.
“She lives and works overseas, so it was a chance for her to take a break and spend some time in Bali with her best friend.
“She has always loved travel and was excited to relax and enjoy some time away before returning to work.
“We have been by her side every day in ICU. At the moment, she is very confused, and her memory is affected.
“She is often unsure where she is or what happened to her.”
It is still unclear why Luca collapsed, with her sister believing it may have been either a seizure or a sudden fainting, possibly due to the humidity.
“The cause is still unknown. We are also trying to get CCTV from the venue to see what happened,” Rikki said.
“Doctors are continuing to monitor her closely, and it’s still uncertain how long she will need to remain in hospital.”
Rikki said hospital staff have been caring and supportive, but it’s been incredibly overwhelming navigating “this in another country.”
Unfortunately, Luca is not covered by travel insurance, so her family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover the extremely high medical costs, with $24,260 raised so far.
“These include ICU care, ongoing treatment, and eventually getting her safely back home to Australia when she is stable enough to travel,” Rikki explained.
“Once Luca is well enough to return home, she is likely to require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and time away from work while she recovers, which will also be a significant part of her journey.
“As a family, we have also had to urgently travel to Bali and step away from work to be by her side, which has added to the financial strain during this already overwhelming time.
“The support so far has made an enormous difference to our family.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, flying while there is “air in the brain,” otherwise known as pneumocephalus, can be hazardous during air travel because decreased cabin pressure makes air bubbles expand.
This can potentially cause a dangerous increase in intracranial pressure, leading to a life-threatening condition comparable to tension pneumothorax, which is termed tension pneumocephalus.
In addition to the fact that Luca’s memory and brain functions remain impacted at this time would also make air travel not only difficult, but extremely dangerous.
So for now, the family is sitting tight in Bali until they get the all clear.
Rikki said this experience has been the most difficult thing her family has ever had to face, but they are getting through it one day at a time.
Describing her sister as “one of the kindest, caring and most vibrant people you could meet”, she said she will remain by her side in Bali until she can come back home.
“She absolutely loves travel and experiencing new places, and she’s always been someone who brings people together,” she said.
“She’s a devoted sister, daughter, and friend, and the kind of person who would do anything for the people she loves.
“Seeing her like this has been incredibly hard for all of us. This has been the most frightening and overwhelming experience our family has ever faced.”
Rikki said the family is taking things one day at a time and hoping for Luca’s recovery.
“We are so grateful for any support,” she added.
Approximately 1.5 million Australians visit Bali each year, with Aussies being the leading source of foreign tourists to the island.
This represents over 25 per cent of all foreign visitors to the Indonesian island.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told news.com.au that they were “providing consular assistance to an Australian in Bali” but “owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
“Medical emergencies are one of the most common issues Australians face overseas, and Indonesia records a significant number of hospitalisations of Australians each year, particularly from road accidents, falls and water-related incidents,” they said.
“Serious injuries can result in lengthy hospital stays, medical evacuation or repatriation to Australia, often at very high cost.
“We strongly recommend Australians take out comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation before they travel, and always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).”
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