A WELSH man who was left paralysed after a motorbike crash in Thailand a year ago that we covered here says he is “lucky to be alive” but “sheds a tear every day for his old life.”
Lee Francis, 55, and his wife Clare came off their bike on the final day of their holiday in Krabi, southern Thailand, on January 19, 2024.
He recalls the last thing he said before the crash: “We’re living the dream.”
Francis spent 10 months in a hospital and credits a crash helmet with saving his life. He is now urging others to wear them.
Final ride before the disaster
The couple were visiting Francis’s daughter, Katie, and were due to return their rented bikes just before the crash.
“It’s been a great challenge,” said Francis, who is from Llantwit Fardre, Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, “I shed a tear most days because of the frustration. I just want my old life back.”
Francis, who is now wheelchair-bound, describes the experience as a form of grief. “It’s very difficult to accept. Life is now in a wheelchair, and I’m still coming to terms with it.”
He is receiving psychological support at Llandough Hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan.
A fight for survival
Following the crash, Francis was taken to Bangkok Phuket Hospital, where he developed a pulmonary embolism, complicating treatment for his fractured spine.
“The surgeon told me I was lucky to survive the night,” he said.
Doctors fought for a week to save his life, but they were unable to prevent him from becoming paralysed from the waist down.
“I am lucky to be alive, and this is the start of my new life. I believe every day and every year will get better.”
Both he and his wife were wearing helmets at the time, and Francis is adamant that they saved their lives.
“We were just 10 minutes from our villa when I said to Clare, ‘We’re living the dream, babes.’ Ten minutes later, everything changed.
“In Thailand, locals rarely wear helmets, and many tourists don’t either. Often, rental helmets don’t fit properly, or people think they look cooler without one. But I know wearing one saved my life.”
Clare: A wife and carer
Francis describes his wife Clare as his “rock” throughout the past year.
“Clare hasn’t missed a day. She visited me in the hospital every single day and has been my rock.
“She’s had to take on the role of both wife and carer, which is incredibly difficult, but she’s faced it all head-on, despite her own injuries.”
Ms Francis suffered concussion and deep abrasions in the crash. The couple, who married in summer 2022, remain determined to move forward together.
Rebuilding a life
Francis spent 10 months in Llandough Hospital undergoing intensive physiotherapy, building upper body strength, and learning to use a standing frame. Hydrotherapy also played a role in his recovery.
The couple have adapted their home with an extension, partly funded by the local community, to accommodate his new needs.
“The community has been absolutely fantastic. They’re helping me pay for a wet room and a downstairs bed, which will make life a lot easier. I’m overwhelmed by their generosity.”
Francis, a former community occupational therapist, was forced into early medical retirement. Having spent his career helping people with disabilities live independently, he has now arranged his own care package.
“I’ve always loved sport, and it’s always been a healer for me. I know sport will help me mentally again. I want to inspire others to realise that there is life after injury. That’s the journey I’m on now.”
Last year, as part of his rehabilitation, Francis visited Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, where he took part in wheelchair basketball.
A warning for other tourists
Francis is one of several Welsh tourists seriously injured in motorbike crashes in Thailand.
Earlier this month, 28-year-old Corey Bevis from Barry died in a crash, while Adam Davies from Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, fractured his skull on Ko Tao on Boxing Day 2022.
“It’s crucial people wear the right equipment, ensure their helmet fits properly, and have travel insurance,” said Francis.
“A split-second can change everything.”