A British man’s sun-soaked escape to Thailand has taken a devastating turn after a horrific accident left him fighting for his life in a Phuket hospital.
Ricky Eury, a 39-year-old restaurateur from Bristol, suffered catastrophic injuries when he was struck by a motorcycle while crossing the road on Saturday, March 15. The impact left him with multiple skull fractures, broken ribs, a shattered nose, and severe bleeding on the brain.
Russian tourists Sergei Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, who were riding an XMAX motorcycle at the time of the accident, were arrested at the scene. The collision happened as Eury was leaving the gym, where he had been training in Thai boxing since arriving in Phuket in February.
Eury’s distraught family—his parents George and Annette, his girlfriend Hannah Ryan, and his brother Joey—immediately flew to Thailand upon receiving the devastating news. His father, 66-year-old George, recalled the horrifying moment they found out.
“We got the call at 8 a.m. on Saturday. I could hear Ricky screaming in the background. His friend told us to get there immediately.”
Annette, 73, described the agonizing wait to reach her son.
“That was the longest 24 hours of my life. We were in the air, unable to contact anyone, unsure if he’d still be alive when we landed.”
Despite the grim prognosis, Eury miraculously survived the critical first 36 hours after being admitted to the intensive care unit at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. His father credited his fitness for aiding his survival.
“Ricky is strong, and the doctors say his physical condition will help his recovery. But we still don’t know what the future holds.”
Eury has since regained consciousness and begun speaking, though his memory remains hazy. His mother shared that he keeps asking the same questions repeatedly, unaware of his condition.
The family was hit with another setback upon arrival—without Eury’s insurance details, they were left facing staggering medical costs. His 36-year-old friend, Solomon Wilkinson, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover expenses, as the family was forced to pay £10,000 within just three days of treatment.
“Ricky was unconscious, so we couldn’t confirm his insurance details,” Wilkinson explained.
Despite the immense challenges, Eury’s loved ones are determined to stay by his side in Thailand for as long as necessary.
“Ricky comes first. We’re living day by day, hour by hour,” said George.
Doctors remain cautiously optimistic but stress that recovery will be a long and uncertain process. The extent of Ricky’s brain injuries is still unclear, leaving his family anxiously awaiting further updates.
For now, their focus remains on supporting him through this difficult journey, hoping for his eventual recovery.
