British Tourist in Coma After Thailand Scooter Crash Just Before Flight Home
A young British tourist is fighting for his life in a coma in Thailand after a devastating scooter crash that occurred just one day before he was due to fly back to the United Kingdom. Zak Forsyth, a 21-year-old from Huyton in Merseyside, had been enjoying a four-week holiday with friends when the tragic incident unfolded.
The Devastating Accident
On Friday, while dropping off a friend during his holiday in Thailand, Zak was riding his scooter completely sober when a car suddenly pulled out in front of him. The collision caused him to crash, with the other driver immediately rushing him to a nearby hospital. Despite these prompt efforts, Zak has sustained potentially life-changing injuries that include a brain bleed, a blood clot, and multiple fractures to his nose, jaw, ankle, wrist, and teeth.
Partner's Heartbreaking Revelation
His devoted girlfriend, Amy Elkin, also 21 and from Prescot in Merseyside, has revealed the cruel timing of the accident. "The tragic episode happened just a day before he was due to fly home from a fun-filled four weeks abroad with friends," she explained. Amy, a hairdresser who is set to fly to Thailand to be with Zak, has vowed to remain by his bedside until he can return to the UK with her.
Holding back tears in an interview with the Daily Mail, Amy declared: "I am not coming home until he comes home with me. So, if we've got to stay over there for three months, four months, until he's able to fly, boat, whatever - that's what I'm going to do." The couple were due to celebrate their two-year anniversary next week and had plans to relocate to Australia together in the coming months.
Mounting Medical Costs and Fundraiser
Compounding the tragedy, Zak did not have medical or travel insurance for his trip, leaving his distraught loved ones to cover all treatment costs independently. The expenses have been astronomical, with £2,000 required to transfer him to a suitable hospital and an additional £5,000 for just seven days in intensive care. He urgently needs two brain surgeries costing £36,000 in total, with further ICU stays and medical transport back to the UK likely to escalate costs significantly.
Amy has established an online fundraiser to help with these medical bills, which has so far raised £19,000 toward a £30,000 target. She expressed her desperation, stating: "They just want money. We've been told just money, money, money. We're all just worried. The most important thing is just getting the brain surgery out of the way. Everything else, we can deal with. We just need to get him into surgery."
Family and Community Support
Zak was alone at the time of the crash, with the other driver taking him to hospital under the belief he might not have survived. The British Embassy contacted local police, who then informed his family. Amy recalled: "I rang his friends who were over in Thailand and said that he's in a coma and they didn't know anything about it." She described Zak as "the funniest person in the world" who loves travelling, football, and bikes, adding that he is "loved by everyone in the community."
Zak's mother, Melanie McCourt, 47, previously told the Liverpool Echo: "We need as much help as we can to get him home." In a heartfelt Instagram post, Amy wrote about the sudden and devastating nature of the situation, emphasizing that time is critical and every moment matters in ensuring Zak receives the care he desperately needs. She expressed humility in asking for financial help, stating that any donations will go directly toward medical expenses and urgent travel costs for family members to be at his side.
