Dawn Weldon, a practice nurse from the NSW north coast, was riding a moped with her 14-year-old son on January 15 when she collided with a truck in the resort district of Ko Lanta.

The 53-year-old nurse suffered a brain injury, a fractured skull and broke 15 separate bones. She needs a medical escort to return home to Australia. Given the extent of medical care needed for Dawn’s repatriation, she needs to fly business class so she can lie down for most of the journey. She needs a doctor and nurse plus medical equipment to keep her safe and comfortable.

Ms Weldon’s friend Donna Saalfeld flew from Brisbane to coordinate the medical evacuation. She said: “She’s a nurse, who has been working with the Red Cross and devoted her life to helping others, and would never have ridden the moped if she thought it was risky or knew she wasn’t covered, so I promise you she’s extremely deserving.”

Assistance was delayed because Ms Weldon did not have a hard copy of her insurance policy in her luggage — instead keeping a digital version on her mobile phone.

Read more about Dawn’s story here and here.

Dawn’s Go Fund Me page is here.