A talented Australian freediver may never dive again after his spleen had to be emergencyally removed following a horrific car accident in Bali.
Sam Hourigan was on the Padang Padang Bridge in Bali’s Uluwatu region when he was hit by a motorcyclist going the wrong way with no lights on.
Another scooter crushed Mr Hourigan as he lay unconscious on the road, leaving him with a crushed spleen, broken ribs and internal bleeding.
His spleen had to be removed in a life-saving operation, and doctors estimated he had only hours to live without medical treatment.
Mr Hourigan is now recovering in intensive care following the horrific incident, with medical bills expected to exceed $50,000.
Mr. Hourigan had travel insurance when he traveled to Bali, but due to a minor error the insurance company refused to pay his hospital or travel expenses.
His story is a good reminder for the thousands of Australians who travel overseas thinking they are ‘insured’ when in many cases they are not.
His partner, Kristen Czyszek, shared an update on his condition on Wednesday.
Sam Hourigan, pictured with his partner Kristen Czyszek, was left with broken ribs, a shattered spleen, internal bleeding and lacerations all over his body after a horrific car crash in Bali
Mr Hourigan’s spleen had to be removed in a life-saving operation, with doctors estimating he would have had only hours to live without medical treatment.
“My partner Sam was involved in a car accident in Bali last weekend that nearly killed him. He will be forever affected,” she wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
‘He suffered broken ribs, a shattered spleen, lacerations all over his body and life-threatening internal bleeding.
‘Sam now has no spleen or appendix and one of his greatest joys in life is freediving, but that will probably never happen to him again.’
He knows he’s lucky to be alive, but his heart is broken.
“Nothing can prepare you for the amount of grief, shock, anger and sadness that comes with watching the one you love fight for their life. Anyone who knows him will tell you he was one of the most generous people with the biggest heart.
“The medical bills are $50,000, which his insurance will not cover due to a minor technicality. Any help from the community would mean the world to me, Sam, and everyone who knows him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Mr. Hourigan’s diving coach, Adam Sellars, has started a GoFundMe campaign to support the talented diver as he begins his long road to recovery.
Mr Hourigan is recovering in intensive care after being hit by two scooters in Bali
The talented diver was named Australian Freediving Depth Champion 2023 at the AFA National Depth Championships last September
“Sam is always the first to lend a helping hand to those in need, he is very generous wherever he goes and he takes great pride in himself. He would not ask for help, but his hospital bills could be as high as $50,000, not to mention the time he will be away from work and recovering,” Mr. Sellars wrote.
“Please give generously. You know Sam, aka Batman, would be in the same position.”
At the time of writing, GoFundMe has raised over $32,000.
Mr Hourigan was named 2023 Australian Freediving Depth Champion at the AFA National Depth Championships last September.