Cambodia woman to start journey home

Lisa Gatt, the 25-year-old seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Cambodia, should start her journey back to Malta today, The Times has learnt.

Eating a packet of Twistees, delivered by a paramedic team from the Malta Red Cross, the young woman was in good spirits yesterday, Natal Falzon, a member of the organisation said.

"If all goes well, we will start the journey to Bangkok where the Thai Red Cross will assist us before getting on a plane back to Malta," he said, adding the next hurdle was trying to determine the logistics of getting Ms Gatt on the plane.

Speaking to The Times yesterday, Lisa's sister Lia said the team was expected to drive the 16-odd hours to Bangkok.

"It is such a relief to know there are Maltese people with her. We are so excited and happy. I can't wait to hug her," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Ms Gatt broke her thigh bone in an accident two weeks ago and was operated upon in a small Cambodian clinic, where she has been recovering. The team reached here yesterday and were in the process of examining her before her release.

Last week the Malta Red Cross was forced to cancel its plans to send paramedics to Cambodia because it could not at first make contact with the national Red Cross society in the Asian country.

However, the team left on Saturday after obtaining assistance from the International Red Cross. Arrangements were made to keep the injured traveller under observation at the clinic until the paramedics' arrival.

Ms Gatt was riding pillion on a motorcycle on April 7 when she was involved in the accident. Unconscious, she was taken to a nearby clinic and woke up some hours later in extreme pain.

She had been travelling in Cambodia since November but did not take out an insurance policy and was faced with hefty medical expenses. Surgery to pin her thigh bone back in place cost €2,000.

Lia Gatt yesterday said some €9,000 have been raised following appeals for help and thanked people for their generosity and support.

The family was now looking into the possibility of setting up a foundation to help travellers who find themselves in trouble.

Donations can be made directly at the Red Cross offices at 104, St Ursula Street, Valletta, at Room 6, University of Malta, Xewkija, or in Bank of Valletta account number 10206374012.