Surf legend Mark Richardson to fly to Darwin after suffering infection in Bali
Surfing legend Mark Richardson flies to Darwin after an infection in Bali
An Australian surfing legend who was left fighting for his life in hospital is being flown back to Australia for treatment.
Mark Richardson was taken to Siloam Hospital in Kuta, south of Bali in Indonesia, last week while on holiday in the popular tourist hotspot.
Mr Richardson suffered internal bleeding after contracting an infection, leaving the surfing great in hospital in a serious condition.
Friends of the four-time Australian surfing champion had desperately appealed for blood type A donations after Mr Richardson’s condition deteriorated about four days ago.
Australian surfing legend Mark Richardson (pictured) suffered a serious condition after suffering internal bleeding while on holiday in Bali
Despite receiving ten bags of the rare blood source from the Australian Red Cross, the hospital refused the donation.
Mr Richardson will be flown out on Wednesday and will arrive in Darwin later this evening around 11pm.
Some of the bags of blood will instead be loaded onto an emergency plane that will fly Mr Richardson back to Australia.
As he flies back, he receives blood transfusions on the plane.
One of Mr Richardson’s friends, Fiona Meyer, who was with Mr Richardson in Bali during his ordeal, said there were few options left to get him the care he needs.
“He will die if he stays here,” Mrs. Meyer told the newspaper ABC.
‘Because the situation is so diabolical, he has to get out as quickly as possible’
“It’s terrible that it has come to this.”
Ms Meyer said Richardson would be flown by an aircraft from LifeFlight, an emergency air service.
The champion Aussie surfer (pictured left) will be flown out of Bali on Wednesday and given blood transfusions on a LifeFlight plane that will transport him to Darwin at around 11pm local time.
Friends of Mr Richardson (pictured) had desperately tried to get him supplies of the A blood group to help with his treatment, after the hospital where he was admitted in Bali was unable to give him sufficient supplies of the rare blood group.
The Australian Red Cross told the Australian Red Cross ABC that a total of six bags of blood will be loaded onto the plane, along with other blood sources needed for the man’s care.
Mr Richardson had received blood transfusions while in hospital in Bali.
Ms Meyer claimed the hospital had been unable to supply enough blood to help treat Mr Richardson.
a GonFundMe was founded and nearly $39,000 has been raised to date to help fund the costs of his medical treatment.
M Richardson is a renowned figure in Australian surfing, having won a gold medal in the Masters Division at the ISA World Masters Surfing Championships in 2011.
After his successful surfing career, he became a coach and mentor to several rising stars, including Aussies Liam O’Brien, Callum Robson and Isabella Nichols.