AN amazing $40,000 has been raised in less than a week following a former Tynong student’s scooter accident in Bali left him with serious injuries.
Twenty-three-year-old John Elliott, who lives and works in the construction industry in Western Australia, was badly injured in a three vehicle accident while riding a motor scooter on 9 September.
He was reportedly two hours from the Denpasar when he had a head-on collision with another scooter, and was then run over by a third vehicle.
Garfield family friend Roman Kulkewycz has been in regular contact with the family.
“He was taken to an overcrowded and underfunded local hospital where he received some preliminary care,” he said.
“John is suffering internal injuries, a broken pelvis, a broken hand, a serious gash in his side, as well as assorted cuts and bruises.
“(John’s mother) Anne said that despite all of his injuries and discomfort John was in good spirits and has been heartened by the outpouring of help and good wished from his friends.”
The family was able to fly John in a special Intensive Care Unit Air Ambulance to a hospital in Perth, accompanied by two degree qualified critical care flight paramedics.
“Pilot Zac Froneman said that there was a lot of co-ordination required to ensure that the road ambulance, which collected John from the hospital where he was being treated, arrived at Denpasar airport just before the aircraft landed there,” he said.
“This worked exactly as planned and only 35 minutes was spent on the ground in Denpasar.”
However the flight cost $55,000.
He is the seventh of 11 children of Anne and Gerard Elliott of Neerim, who Roman said are “under huge emotional and financial pressure”.
“Anne and Gerard … are now $75,000 in debt and need help from the community,” he said.
“Friends have rallied around the family and a website where people can donate to help them financially has been set up.
“The total raised so far is about $40,000 but much more is needed.”
John attended St Thomas Aquinas College in Tynong and Chairo Christian School in Drouin.
Those wishing to make a donation and leave a message of support can go to www.youcaring.com/elliott
