Hey friends, family, and kind strangers

I’ve been swithering back and forth for days about creating this GoFundMe. The last thing I ever wanted was to become “that foreigner in Thailand” asking for help after a motorbike accident. But after 21 days in hospital, with more surgeries ahead and my savings wiped out, I’ve completely run out of options. I’m swallowing my pride and reaching out.

My name is Darren , a proud Scot who has called Thailand home for the past 11 years. I have a full Thai driver’s license, insurance (though it only covered a fraction), and I’ve built a life here through hard work and respect for my adopted country.

On Saturday, 13 June, that life changed in an instant. I was riding along a high-speed triple carriageway when a gentleman on a motorbike with a sidecar, travelling in the opposite direction, suddenly decided to U-turn directly across all three lanes. Two cars ahead of me in the other lanes managed to avoid him, but he didn’t see me. There was no time to react. We collided head-on (T-bone) at around 100 km/h.

The impact was catastrophic. I lost approximately 5 inches of my tibia at the scene. I suffered a proximal tibia open fracture (the bone broke through the skin), multiple comminuted fractures where my tibia and ankle essentially exploded into hundreds of tiny fragments, and countless broken bones in my right foot. The injuries are so complex and unusual that the surgeons are turning my case into a medical case study.

I’ve already undergone multiple emergency surgeries involving external fixations, titanium plate insertions, bone grafts, and plastic surgeons. I’ve completely lost use of my Achilles tendon - I can’t flex or move my foot at all it just dangles, and doctors say this is likely permanent. At best, I’ll never walk normally again. I’m facing permanent disability and a long, uncertain road to any kind of mobility.

Between my family and me, we’ve already paid around 1 million Thai Baht (£22,000) out of pocket for the initial treatments. But we’re far from done. The surgeons can’t yet say exactly how many more operations I’ll need - at least 3 or 4 more are confirmed before I can even begin proper rehabilitation. Ongoing care, physio, potential further grafts, medications, and lost income while I can’t work will add up fast in Thailand’s excellent but expensive hospitals.

I can't feel any sensation in my right leg from the knee down and it's absolutely terrifying. I've also had 7 blood transfusions so far, meaning none of the red blood cells in my body are mine anymore.

This wasn’t recklessness on my part - it was a split-second decision by another driver that stole my mobility and financial security. I’m determined to fight for the best possible recovery, but right now I’m staring at an overwhelming mountain of bills with no clear end in sight. Even the smallest donation - just £1, £5, or £10 - truly makes a difference and gives me hope. Every share helps reach someone who might be able to contribute.

Your support won’t just help with surgery bills; it will help me reclaim my independence through rehabilitation and get back to the active life I love here in Thailand. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I’ll keep everyone updated with progress photos and medical reports as I go. Your kindness means more than you know.

You can follow me along the road of rehabilitation on Instagram @dazcummy or Darren Thomas on Facebook so you can see how the money is being spent & if you would like to ask any questions I'm there to answer them.

Appreciate you all, thankyou.

Kind Regards,

Darren

Here's the skin graft I had done just a few days ago in the last operation below and the current state I am in -