Thurso man's daring bid to help injured brother
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AN intrepid Thurso businessman plans to swim part of the Pentland Firth, climb the three highest peaks in the UK and cycle over 500 miles – all in a week – in a bid to help his younger brother who lies critically injured in a hospital in Singapore.
Mark Taylor (35), who owns Picture Box and Hush boutique, plans to undertake the epic triathlon after his brother, Mathew, was involved in a head-on collision and came off his motorcycle in Bali.
The 30-year-old required numerous operations to rebuild his skull and treatment to fight infections such as pneumonia, septicaemia and MRSA – but, with no travel insurance, the hospital bills are running high.
In the nine weeks since the accident happened, the family has had to find tens of thousands of pounds for Mathew’s care.
"Due to the ongoing medical bills – equating to over £2000 a day at one point – I decided it was time for me as his big brother to do something about it," Mark told the Caithness Courier.
"People in Scotland know of the seas and know of the mountains and many know the hardship of cycling this kind of distance. This just brings it all together."
Early on October 2 Mark and a training friend, David Spencer, will brave the icy chill and dangerous currents of the Pentland Firth by swimming from Dunnet Head to Thurso beach.
After drying off, Mark will be accompanied by two more friends from training, Lorna Stanger and Sandy Christie, in tackling the Three Peaks Challenge – comprising Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike in England and Mount Snowdon in Wales – all, hopefully, within a 24-hour period.
After recovering overnight with his family in Derbyshire, Mark will then get into the saddle to cycle 540 miles back to Thurso with Lorna. The shop owner has been taking part in "small-ish" triathlon events over the past year but has never attempted anything like this.
"This is like a double Ironman," he said. "Earlier in the year when I told someone I was doing a triathlon they said, ‘oh you’ll be doing the Ironman next’ and I laughed and said, ‘don’t be daft, do you know what goes into that?’" Mark’s aim is to raise enough money to keep Mathew’s essential care going until he is stable enough to be flown home – the cost of which is likely to have to be covered by the family.
Mathew was found by the roadside on the Indonesian island with serious injuries and it is believed he had been robbed of his possessions.
Since then, Mark explained, it has been touch and go for his brother, who was in the country teaching children English.
Just days ago Mathew underwent an 18-hour operation involving around 20 surgeons to stop air leaking into his skull.
The cost of the operation was around £43,000 – and is only one of many the family is currently trying to pay.
He has already had his jaw reconstructed but has lost the use of one of his eyes and only has intermittent mobility in his legs.
Ironically, Mathew’s Indonesian fiancée, Handayani, first raised the alarm with his family in the UK while Mark was competing in a triathlon event.
Mathew’s partner had found him in hospital having been unattended for 10 hours as he had no identification. He was just preparing to take up a new teaching post in China.
Mathew was due to be flown back to the UK around two weeks ago after the family, through its own funds and kind donations, managed to sort out £75,000 to hire air ambulance transport.
However, UK physicians, on reviewing his charts, said he was not fit enough to fly.
Mark hoped this will change in the coming weeks but said it should act as a warning to all travellers.
"Even if nothing comes out of it for my brother, at least it shines light on the fact that you should never go travelling without travel insurance."
Anyone wanting to find out more or donate can visit http://help
mathewtaylor.wordpress.com/
Alternatively, donations can be arranged through the Picture Box in Grove Lane or by phoning 01847 896900.
