The 25-year-old is currently in hospital in Phuket where she became unwell just days before she was to start a new job in the country
THE dad of an Instagram model stranded in Thailand with a mystery infection says he “fears the worst” after doctors failed to identify what’s wrong.
Rebekah Fulton is currently lying sedated in a Phuket hospital after suddenly falling ill.
Experts fear that an infection has spread to her brain which develop an abscess and need emergency surgery.
Now dad James Geddes, 48, says it is an “urgent priority’ that she is flown home from Thailand to the UK as soon as possible.
He said: “I now fear the worst for Rebekah as her situation will only deteriorate and the medical costs are spiralling.”
Due to the language barrier at the hospital, he has struggled to communicate with doctors about Rebekah’s fragile state.
He said: “The medical staff have treated Rebekah very well however it got to the point this morning due to the language barrier that I had to consider moving Rebekah to another hospital which is private.
I now fear the worst for Rebekah as her situation will only deteriorate and the medical costs are spiralling.
James Geddes
“The first option was too cost prohibitive at a minimum of £2,500 per day as Rebekah would require intensive care and the second option does not have the facilities to treat Rebekah should any surgical procedure be required.“
“The interpreter from the UK advised that Rebekah return to the UK as an urgent priority.
“It was therefore advised to have her remain in this state hospital while they work out what is going on and the appeal continues.
“I have spoken with the senior doctor here specialising in infectious diseases who is treating Rebekah and she is doing her very best to identify the infection but it is proving very difficult.
“She is concerned that her initial ear infection has transferred to her brain and if this causes a cerebral abscess then emergency surgery will be required.”
The 25-year-old was granted a non visitor visa in March to begin a job at a popular hostel.
But once it was received, her travel insurance cover became invalid.
After being sponsored by a company, she was set to receive a work permit today, which meant her medical costs would have been covered.
But tragedy struck after the keen traveller fell seriously ill two weeks ago, meaning dad James is covering all bills.
Rebekah has undergone extensive testing over the past few days - including blood and urine tests, CT and MRI scans and a spinal tap.
So far, all tests have come back negative with the exception of an extremely high white blood cell count, indicating she has an infection.
Devastated dad James, who is from Barrhead, near Glasgow, said Rebecca is “very distressed and confused due to the level of infection.”
He added: “Rebekah now requires to be sedated on a regular basis to keep her calm whilst the antibiotic treatment and testing continues and this is extremely distressing for her, myself and her friend who is also at her bedside on a regular basis.
“I appreciate that there are a number of fundraising events being organised by individuals and businesses locally in Barrhead and I am eternally grateful for this together with the many many people who have personally donated to the GoFundMe appeal and try to thank everyone personally through the appeal page.”
This is a horrible situation and one any parent dreads. Rebekah is extremely ill and in urgent need of the right medical care, which means we need to get her back to the UK.
Paul Masterson MP
Now James has called for the British Embassy to offer the family more help.
He said: “I called the British Embassy in Bangkok this morning from the hospital and after providing information on Rebekah, was put through to another person who asked me the same questions again. Frustratingly I had to hang up as I was becoming more and more upset.”
Paul Masterton, Rebekah’s MP has been in touch with .
He said: “This is a horrible situation and one any parent dreads. Rebekah is extremely ill and in urgent need of the right medical care, which means we need to get her back to the UK.”
Rebekah is originally from Paisley, in Renfrewshire, Scotland, but has been travelling for nearly five years.
Since the was started on Monday, it has raised over £15,000 of the £25,000 goal
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