Help bring Lawson home to continue his recovery

Let’s bring Lawson home and support his recovery! #letsgetbehindlawson.

Lawson Rankin, 18, a strong and caring son, brother and friend, urgently needs to be medically evacuated home from Bali for ongoing treatment.

After a terrible scooter accident in Bali on Saturday night, November 30, Lawson is still unconscious in ICU at the Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC). Critical, but stable Lawson needs the best health care possible as soon as possible which means bringing him home. As you can imagine, there are bills over $30,000 for the first few days and with the insurance company not stepping up, we are asking for your help to help his family to get him back to Australia.

What Happened?
After years of dedication and hard work Lawson is expecting excellent results in his HSC in a just a few weeks. While on Schoolies in Bali, Lawson was trailing 2 friends on a motor scooter. The passenger on the motor scooter was using google maps for directions when a local motorcycle rider snatched the phone and sped off. Lawson being quicker on his scooter took off around the friends’ bike in pursuit. Further along the road the boys noticed Lawson’s scooter deep in a concrete drain steaming in the water. The boys quickly jumped down into the drain and initially couldn’t see him. Shining their torches down further into a large covered section they found Lawson, face down drowning in the sewer with multiple head lacerations and unconscious. They lifted Lawson out of the drain and performed CPR to resuscitate him, locals called an ambulance and Lawson has been unconscious since. Lawson's family are eternally grateful for the heroic actions of these young men.

Lawson has had surgery for injuries including around 20 stitches for a head wound caused by his crushed helmet. But, the biggest concerns are for the brain haemorrhage that he suffered and infection from the water that got into his lungs. Thankfully, he has no skull or spinal fractures. Lawson’s family are by his side in Bali and while his recovery journey is unknown we know Lawson will continue fighting his best fight with his strong determination.

Despite having travel insurance, Lawson was not licenced for a motor bike and the insurance company will not cover any of his medical costs. His family are going to bring him home no matter what it takes, but to support them, we're asking for your help. We need to make it happen as soon as possible, so the focus can be on Lawson’s recovery in the time ahead. The bills are already over $30,000 for a few days in an international hospital and he may not be able to travel for weeks, so this will continue to rise. Once there is clearance to get him onto a plane, it's expected a Medivac flight to Sydney and transfers to Newcastle to be more than $100,000. Once home Lawson is likely to have a long journey of rehabilitation.

It will be one step at a time, but an expensive journey, if we all pull together we can make a big difference. If you can, please donate today, every bit will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

***UPDATE*** Thank you so much for the amazing support we have received. Our target was based on supporting Lawson’s first four days in ICU and the Medivac home. Lawson is still unconscious for a sixth day in ICU and we just don’t know how long this will go on for or when he will be able to fly. He will then have a long road of recovery. With expenses changing daily and the amazing show of support, we are now hoping to cover more of the medical costs for Lawson. We are confident every cent of the target will be needed and we’ll update as we have more information.

***UPDATE, 8/12/19***
We’re glad to update that Lawson arrived safely by medical evacuation from Bali today. Balinese Police were instrumental in safe passage to the airport, providing motorcade and support and DFAT assisted in safe travel home.

Lawson remains unconscious under sedation at Sydney, Prince of Wales Hospital, Intensive Care Unit with his parents by his side. He is still in a critical condition, but is now with the best medical teams in Australia.

The family would like to publicly thank everyone for their support and well wishes, through the GoFundMe and hundreds of messages to the family.

Thank you for bringing Lawson home!!

The TheGoFund me will close at midnight tonight. 

**

This page has been created by Lawson's cousins, page organiser and cousin is Taren Brown, Newcastle, NSW. Funds will be used directly for Lawson's medical costs for as long as he is required to stay in Bali, for his medical evacuation as soon as he is safe to travel and his rehabilitation.

We are hoping to give the family all the space they need so ask that for any media enquires please contact [email redacted].au