Cornwall Mother Faces Lengthy Recovery After India Motorcycle Crash
Roxanne Bolton, a 39-year-old mother-of-five from Bude, Cornwall, is stranded in India with horrific injuries following a devastating motorcycle collision. The incident occurred on March 29, when she was travelling as a passenger on a motorcycle that turned a corner and smashed head-on into another vehicle.
Severe Injuries and Multiple Surgeries Required
Medics at the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) confirm that Bolton will need several surgical procedures before she can safely return to the United Kingdom. Her injuries include a fractured hip and a femur that is completely snapped in two, requiring pins and an external fixator cage to stabilize the bone.
"When she looked at her leg it was just completely mis-formed. She was in agony," said her daughter Aleisha Petherick, describing how her mother was flung from the motorcycle into a ditch during the collision.
Financial Strain and Fundraising Efforts
Complicating the situation, Bolton did not have travel insurance at the time of the accident. Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover medical expenses that are expected to reach thousands of pounds. The initial surgery alone is estimated to cost approximately £4,000.
"We've raised about £2,500 so far," Aleisha reported. "But she's got at least three or four more surgeries to go after the initial procedure."
Community Support in India
Despite the traumatic circumstances, Bolton is receiving remarkable support from the local community in Auroville, where she had been staying. Community members have:
- Paid for some treatments when the family couldn't
- Organized a rotation schedule to ensure she's never alone in hospital
- Created group chats to coordinate support efforts
The owner of her hostel generously covered the initial treatment costs, which the family hopes to repay through their fundraising efforts.
Emotional and Physical Toll
Bolton had been travelling through India and Thailand since January, fulfilling a long-held dream. Now, she faces a month-long recovery in India before even beginning the additional surgical procedures.
"She's in extreme pain at the moment but she's coping really well for someone in extreme pain," Aleisha said. "She's stressed not knowing when she's going to come home and she's stressed not being understood. It's very hard on her emotionally as well."
The family has arranged for a private nurse to stay with Bolton in hospital to help with translation and understanding her treatment plan. While her daughters wish they could be with her in person, they take comfort knowing the local community is providing exceptional care during this difficult time.
