A talented Australian freediver may never dive again after his spleen had to be removed in emergency surgery following a horror hit-and-run in Bali.
Sam Hourigan was on the Padang Padang Bridge in Bali’s Uluwatu region when he was hit by a motorcyclist who was travelling in the wrong direction and without his lights on.
Another scooter crushed Mr Hourigan as he lay unconscious on the road, leaving him with a ruptured spleen, broken ribs and internal bleeding.
His spleen had to be removed in surgery to save his life and doctors estimated he would have lived only a few hours without medical treatment.
Mr Hourigan is now recovering in intensive care after the terrifying ordeal, which is expected to cost more than $50,000 in medical bills.
His partner, Kristen Czyszek, shared an update on his condition by revealing that their travel insurance would not cover the bills due to a minor technicality.
“My partner Sam had an accident in Bali at the weekend that almost cost him his life. He will be forever affected,” he wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
‘He suffered broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, cuts all over his body and life-threatening internal bleeding.
Sam Hourigan, pictured with his partner Kristen Czyszek, was left with broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, internal bleeding and cuts all over his body after a horrific hit-and-run in Bali.
Mr Hourigan’s spleen had to be removed in surgery to save his life and doctors estimated he would only have lived a few hours without medical treatment.
‘Sam now has no spleen or appendix, and one of his greatest joys in life is freediving, which he could miss forever.
‘He knows he’s lucky to be alive, but his heart is broken.
“Nothing can prepare you for the amount of pain, shock, anger and sadness you feel when you see the person you love fighting for their life. Everyone who knows him will tell you that he is one of the most generous and heartfelt people.
“The medical bills are $50,000 and his insurance won’t cover them due to a minor technical exclusion. Any help from the community would mean so much to me, Sam, and everyone who knows him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Mr Hourigan’s diving coach, Adam Sellars, has started a GoFundMe Campaign to support the talented diver as he begins a long road to recovery.
Hourigan recovering in intensive care after being hit by two scooters in Bali
The talented diver was named the 2023 Australian Freediving Depth Champion at the AFA National Depth Championships last September.
“Sam is always the first to lend a helping hand to those in need, he is very generous wherever he goes, he is very proud and would not ask for help, but his hospital bills will potentially reach $50,000, not to mention the time he will be away from being able to work and rehabilitate,” Sellars wrote.
“Please be generous. You know Sam, aka Batman, would be in the same situation.”
GoFundMe has raised over $32,000 as of this writing.
Mr Hourigan was named the 2023 Australian Freediving Champion at the AFA National Freediving Championships last September.
