Help save Astrid’s right arm

Hi Everyone,

I'm reaching out to ask for your help for my good friend Astrid.

Astrid is a French girl, who came to Australia on a working holiday visa. She was loving life, living the Australian dream until that dream turned into a nightmare one day when she was doing volunteer work at a music event.

Astrid was a passenger in a buggy being driven by someone else who was working at this event. Unknown to Astrid this person did not have a licence or any insurance. This person was driving too fast, which caused the buggy to flip when it went over some uneven ground.

The full force and weight of the buggy landed on Astrid's forearm. Her right radius was broken and there was irreparable damage done to some ligaments in Astrid's wrist and fingers. Astrid is right-handed, further exacerbating the injury. 

Astrid had to have immediate surgery. There were complications in the initial surgery and she has since had a further three surgeries and ended up with an IV line directly into her heart, delivering antibiotics into her system to stop infection of her bones.

Astrid has suffered not only physical but also a huge amount of emotional pain because of all this. She has had to consume substantial medication and has had her arm in a cast for the last 7 months. The cast will remain indefinitely. 

This accident has meant that Astrid hasn't been able to work. She hasn't been able to do her Farmwork which means she can't even extend her working holiday visa.

Unable to work, Astrid has lost income for the last seven months ($20000), spent over $20,000 on surgeries and medication, and lost future income as the rehabilitation for her injury is indefinite. 

Adding insult to injury, Astrid went to the police station to report the incident but was advised that there is a six-month statute of limitations for motor vehicle accidents in NSW. Hence, she cannot press criminal charges. 

The Police advised that she may pursue a civil claim against the culprits but she cannot do this as civil litigation can take up to 2 years to resolve and is a costly process. Astrid’s visa expires in March 2022. 

So far Astrid's family and friends have been helping her out. Her medical insurance is paying a portion of the costs but not everything. The person responsible for the accident said they would help at first but have now blocked all her attempts at communication. They will not provide information needed to claim on their insurance either.

Astrid had the same dream as every other backpacker who came here to travel and see the wonders Australia has to offer. This accident and these medical costs are making this dream an unreachable goal.

We are reaching out and asking you to help her with this horrifying ordeal by giving whatever you can. Any donations will be put towards Astrid's medical expenses and her costs of ongoing rehabilitation and costs of living.

If Astrid is successful in getting some money from the person responsible through the legal route she will donate all money received from this fund to a charitable organisation and will post the details of this online.

For any of you that have met Astrid you know that she is a wonderful human and brings joy anywhere she goes, even after dealing with all of this ordeal.