A 23-year-old Co Antrim man who had to undergo a leg amputation in Thailand after he suffered serious injuries in a motorbike accident while there on holiday is on his way home to Northern Ireland for further treatment.
Ross Davidson, from Carrickfergus, had been riding a scooter in the Pai area when he crashed early last month.
In the aftermath of the crash, doctors had to amputate Mr Davidson’s right leg above the knee.
His parents Andrew and Desna flew to Thailand to be with their son - a former pupil of Carrickfergus Grammar School and a graduate of Liverpool John Moores University - following the accident.
Despite Mr Davidson having taken out two insurance policies before his trip, only one insurer said it may pay out some funds towards the medical bills.
However, in a bid to raise the outstanding money needed for Ross’s recovery, a JustGiving page was set up. So far, more than £20,500 has been raised.
Mr Davidson's mother, Desna yesterday revealed that after four weeks, three moves between hospitals, 13 operations and more than 50 blood transfusions, her son was today due to begin his journey back home and was expected to arrive at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast by midnight.
She revealed that he will still have to have surgery twice weekly "until his wound infection has cleared & they can finally close it".
"When this is complete, he will then go to Musgrave Park Hospital for rehabilitation as an in-patient. He is looking forward to that already," she said.
Mrs Davidson said while the experience had been every parent's "worst nightmare", the family had been "truly overwhelmed" by the support they had received.
"We will never be able to thank everyone at home and the people we have met in Thailand for the love & support they have shown us since Ross's accident," she said.
"We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts".
