An Australian man is in hospital in Bali after being hit head-on by another vehicle on a moped.
Melbourne native Bailey Scarlett said her “best friend” Benji Ward was “lucky to be alive” after he suffered a serious head injury and broke four bones, including the tibia and fibula of his right leg, which pierced the skin , in the crash on Thursday morning.
Mr Ward also desperately needed a blood transfusion, forcing doctors to scramble to find a donor as Bali’s hospitals lack well-stocked blood banks.
Ms Scarlett said her boyfriend has had one operation but needs at least one more and also had a metal halo splint drilled into his right leg, requiring him to be confined to a wheelchair for at least four months.
‘At the moment he is awaiting life-saving surgery, but before this can go ahead he needs a blood transfusion; Unfortunately, the blood banks in Bali do not store blood, so we are desperate for blood donors,” she said.
Ms Scarlett has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for Ward’s airlift to Australia. She said his travel insurance would not cover “accidents like this.”
It’s another warning to Aussies in Bali to make sure they add motorcycle cover to their travel insurance, as mopeds are the main mode of transport on the holiday island.
“I know Benji has been a friend to many and would help any of you in any way you can, so any donation to get him home is greatly appreciated,” she said.
Australian tourist Benji Ward is in hospital in Bali after being involved in an alleged hit-and-run while riding a rental bike (pictured)
Mr Ward took to Instagram to thank family and friends who have committed to supporting him through his first surgery which has successfully stopped his bleeding but will need another one on his leg
On Friday, Mr Ward said from his hospital bed that his first surgery had gone well and the bleeding in his head had stopped, but he will need follow-up surgery on his leg in three weeks.
“I am so grateful that everyone has reached out and donated. I have really great friends and family,” Mr Ward said.
“The first operation was successful and they stopped the bleeding. Now I have to wait until I can have an operation on my leg.
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“Words cannot describe the love I have for everyone in this time of need. Thank you. I will try to contact everyone as soon as I recover from the operation.’
It is clear that Benji was on a rented moped when he was involved in a collision.
Mr Scarlett said Bali police are currently searching for the driver.
She has been in contact with the bike rental company, who told her witnesses that the driver was Russian.
Police are investigating the accident and have been told by witnesses that the driver was a Russian
The incident is the latest in a string of Australians hospitalized in Bali in recent weeks.
Travelers have returned to the popular holiday island as international travel is picking up again.
Bali authorities have launched a number of initiatives this year in an effort to improve the island’s reputation as a budget destination, including a new ‘tourist tax’ and a task force to monitor tourist behaviour.
Ms. Scarlett, an OnlyFans model, previously acted as the de facto media spokesperson for baby ‘Lucky’s family.
In February, they captured the nation’s hearts when Lucky’s mother, Honey Ahimsa, made a desperate attempt to arrange a medical evacuation.
Her then seven-week-old daughter had to fly back to Australia for life-saving care that is not available in Indonesia.
Ms Ahimsa, a welfare influencer and mother of two, originally from Melbourne, said doctors in Bali gave her baby a 50 per cent chance of survival.
Within days, nearly $200,000 was raised by kind-hearted donors who rallied behind the stranded family as Lucky battled sepsis, severe pneumonia, lung failure, and RSV bronchiolitis.
She was flown to Brisbane on a medical flight in February and the doctors successfully treated her.
Mr Ward (pictured left) will have a metal halo brace drilled into his leg, requiring him to use a wheelchair for months
A few months later in July, Ms. Ahmisa revealed that she and her partner Pan, along with Lucky and their other young child, have returned to Bali where they are renovating a house.
Mrs. Scarlett later distanced herself from the family after questions were raised about whether the money raised for Lucky was used for their new home.
Ms Ahmisa strongly denied that this was the case.
Bailey Scarlett, an OnlyFans model and actress, acted as de facto media spokesperson for Baby Lucky’s parents Honey and Pan Ahimsa in February
Honey Ahimsa and her fiancé Pan launched a plea for help to fly Lucky to Australia so she could get the best care she desperately needed. They deny that GoFundMe’s nearly $200,000 has been misused.
Ms Scarlett wrote on her social media: ‘I had never been associated with these people before, I just rushed to the hospital to help complete strangers as I felt for them as a mother myself.’
“I had family and friends who donated and were annoyed and disappointed. I pushed the GoFundMe to go viral because I was under the impression that this baby could die if they didn’t reach their goal or were flown out of Bali,” she said.
Ms Ahimsa, whose birth name was Rachael Eti, told Daily Mail Australia that her family just rented the property and no money had been embezzled from GoFundMe. Daily Mail Australia suggests no otherwise.
“I have all receipts and bank statements showing all expenses, for example $107,500 for the medical evacuation plane alone, not including any overseas medical expenses,” she said.