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Nelson man hospitalized in Thailand

Zach Swan suffered severe injuries in a fall
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Nelson’s Zach Swan has been hospitalized after falling off a deck in Thailand. Photo submitted

A Nelson man travelling in Thailand is recovering from severe injuries sustained in a fall.

Zach Swan was standing on an open-air deck when he slipped off, according to his mother Shawna Swan, who provided the Star with details in an email from a hospital in Thailand.

The 26 year old grabbed another man on his way down, only to have that man fall on top of him. While the other man was unharmed, Swan was knocked unconscious and had to be revived via CPR.

Swan suffered acute subdural hematoma, or a blood clot in the brain, and multiple fractures to his skull, jaw and nose, as well as several other ailments including jaw pain, confusion, short-term memory loss, double vision and poor visual tracking.

He underwent an open reduction and internal fixation surgery Monday. Shawna Swan said her son won’t be able to leave the hospital in Ko for at least three more weeks.

Swan’s insurance had run out just prior to his accident, so his family is asking for public donations to pay for medical bills. That can be done online at https://www.gofundme.com/help-support-zachs-surgery.



Tyler Harper

About the Author: Tyler Harper

I’m editor-reporter at the Nelson Star, where I’ve worked since 2015.
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