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Bring Jonny home: Laos motorbike crash leaves Irishman with broken bones and paralysed arm

AN IRISHMAN stranded in Laos after a motorbike accident has pleaded for help to get home to Ireland for medical treatment.

Jonathan Dunne, 25 from Letterkenny in Co. Donegal, was involved in an accident with a motorbike and a tuk tuk at the end of March, which left him with several broken bones and no movement in one arm.

Mr Dunne quit his job a year ago and decided to pursue his dream of travelling, saying: "I wanted to see all the beautifiul places the world had to offer, experience many different cultures and have fun with likeminded travellers along the way."

The accident left Jonathan with horrific injuries to his leg and no movement or power in his right arm. (Picture: Jonathan Dunne)

Having left Ireland in March 2016, Mr Dunne visited Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and volunteered with abandoned animals on a ranch in Antalya, Turkey and taught English to children in Borneo.

Eventually, he arrived in Vang Vieng in Laos in October 2016 and decided to stay.

Speaking to The Irish Post, Mr Dunne explained how, just over one month ago, his dream trip turned into a nightmare.

"Myself, another female motorcyclist and a tuk tuk were involved in an accident. The female driver unfortunately died, and I was in hospital for two weeks recovering.

"I have two broken bones in my leg, one around my knee and around my tibia, as well as a broken shoulder and lost all movement and power in my right arm.

Jonathan is now recovering at a friend's home but needs financial help to get home for specialist medical treatment. (Picture: Jonathan Dunne)

"I don't know if the loss of movement is because of my broken shoulder or nerve damage so I need to see a specialist to tell me because they don't have the equipment or speciality here to assess that.

"I'm staying with a friend who is looking after me at the moment but I'm fundraising to go home and for medical costs for specialist treatment for my arm.

"My family are in Ireland, and they're trying to do some fundraising," Mr Dunne told The Irish Post. "They just want me back as soon as possible."

"It'll be another month before I can come home as I have a full leg cast and I can't comfortably fly at the moment," he said.