(Facebook)
Dozens of people have been lining up outside of a Thai hospital in an attempt to donate blood after a British student was injured while riding on a moped. The 21-year-old victim, Lucy Hill, has a rare A- blood type. Her friend, Lauren Hall, created a post on Facebook that went viral, urging people to come forward to help Hill by donating blood. The student broke her pelvis in the accident which happened on January 9 in the Thai city of Chiang Mai.
The only compatible blood types with A negative are A negative and O negative.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Hill Remains in Intensive Care With Negative Blood Being Rare in Thailand
(Facebook)
The campaign to help Hill began on Trip Advisor. Hill’s friend Lauren Hall then took her pleas to Facebook. Less than one percent of Thai people have A negative blood, which led Hall to plea to western tourists in Thailand to come forward. Hall wrote:
I understand it is your holiday but this is my friend. It doesn’t take long and it will do a great thing. My friend wore a helmet and did nothing wrong.
If you’re around and unsure please get tested.
The BBC reported that while Hill remains in intensive care, she is “out of immediate danger.” Since the incident, Hill has had three blood transfusions as well as having titanium plates inserted in her pelvis.
2. Her Dad Said People Started Lining Up at the Hospital 2 Hours Before it Opened
(Facebook)
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Hill’s father Phil said tourists were lining up outside of the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital two hours before it opened. In a separate interview with the Daily Express, Phil Hill said, “Yesterday morning I was nearly physically sick when I found out. It was very upsetting. We were running around yesterday trying to find flights. It is my daughter, you would do anything for your own child.” He later told the Tab in Leeds that the response has been “humbling” but it’s now “a waiting game.” Hill’s mother, Alison, is by her daughter’s side in intensive care.
An online fundraiser has also been set up for Hill. One commenter, Mike Maitland, said on that site that he will pay for anyone in Thailand to fly domestically to Chiang Mai to donate blood.
Her friend Darren Burns wrote on his Facebook page, “She’s been my best friend for what feels like a life time and from the updates we’re getting she’s a fighter. Luce’s received the blood transfusion she needs, she’s still in intensive care but is out off immediate danger!!”
3. The Car That Hit Hill Was Traveling on the Wrong Side of the Road
(Facebook)
The Daily Express reports that Hill’s family have been told that a car collided with the moped that she was riding on. The newspaper says that car was on the wrong side of road and knocked Hill clear off her motorcycle.
4. Hill Arrived in Thailand on January 3
(Facebook)
According to her Facebook page, Hill is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University. She was traveling in south east Asia as part of her gap year having arrived in Thailand on January 3. On her Facebook she says that she studied physical education and is native of Manchester. The Tab in Leeds reports that Hill and Lauren Hall had planned to travel on to Australia from Thailand.
5. Around 6.3% People Have A- Blood
The Blood Connection says that around 6.3 percent of the population have A negative blood. The website says:
Because your blood is rare, it is important to maintain sufficient supplies for our community and local patients. Your regular and frequent blood donations are especially valued, and many in our area will be given a fighting chance at life because of your generous gift.
