Heart attack victim Gareth Harnett expected to leave Thai hospital
Holidaymaker Gareth
Harnett (right) in Thailand with school friend Bobby
Alamouti
by Peter Barnett
A Ramsgate heart attack victim who was on a life support
machine in a hospital in Thailand is expected to leave hospital
this week.
Gareth Harnett, 29,
collapsed within days of arriving in Phuket - but did not have
holiday health insurance.
Friends in Thailand and Thanet set about a massive fund-raising
campaign for treatment, which was running at more than £2,300 a
day.
Childhood friend Patrick Dyett, who has been co-ordinating the
fund-raising in Phuket with Gareth's fellow travellers, broke the
good news via social networking sites.
He said: "The
doctors are happy for him to leave hospital as long as he rests in
Phuket for a week.
"The next step will be to go back to hospital on Saturday to get
re-examined and a 'fit to fly' certificate."
Patrick, who immediately put £6,000 towards Gareth's hospital
fees last week so he could receive necessary treatment, said that
the friends are staying in a hotel hoping and waiting for the
clearance for Gareth to leave hospital and head for home.
He added it has been a huge strain on the party, watching
their life-long friend battle back from a coma and his
recovery in intensive care.
Patrick said: "It has been a tough time mentally for us out
here. We can't thank everyone enough for their support here and at
home."
He described reaction to the fund-raising campaign, which so far
stands just shy of £10,000 on a pledge site online and more raised
through events and donations in the Thanet area and beyond, as
"amazing".
Patrick added: "If for any reason they won't allow him to fly
with just us, a doctor will be organised to take the flight with
us. We have now reduced the Pledgie and will keep people posted
with updates.
"If there is any money left over I was going to donate it to the
Pilgrim's Hospice at Margate, if that is OK with everyone."
04/02/13
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