Grateful Chinese motorbike crash victim returns home

Officials talk to Chinese tourist Li Yuanzheng at Surat Thani Hospital in Surat Thani province on Monday before he was taken to Samui airport for a flight to China. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)

SURAT THANI: A Chinese tourist who lost a leg in a motorbike accident on Koh Samui left for home on Monday, expressing gratitude for the hospitality and treatment he received.

Li Yuanzheng, 34, was discharged from Surat Thani Hospital and taken to Samui airport, where he and his family boarded a direct flight to China.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Li thanked Thai officials, people, rescue workers and medical personnel for giving him such good care. He said he felt secure and was impressed by the generosity of the people of Koh Samui and Surat Thani province.

Mr Li, his wife Liu Lei, 34, and their 6-year-old daughter arrived on Koh Samui in a tour group. He rented a motorcycle to travel around the island.

However he lost lost control of the motorcycle on a downhill section of Thaveerat Pakdee Road in tambon Mae Nam. The motorbike hit a guard rail and he and his family hit the ground hard.

Mr Li's left leg was severed. His wife broke her right leg. Their daughter escaped with scrapes on her left knee.

Doctors were unable to reattach his leg due to the delay in retrieving it and the gravity of the injury.