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The family of a young father critically injured in a horror Bali scooter crash have revealed he is now clinically brain dead and they will soon shut off his life support machine.
Sydney father Kevin Malligan had been holidaying in Bali just weeks before the birth of his second child when he fell off his scooter and hit his head, leaving him on life support in Nusa Dua’s BIMC hospital.
The 24-year-old suffered a brain bleed and a fracture to his neck, and was put into an induced coma as he fought for his life.
His heavily pregnant wife Leah Malligan rushed to be by her husband’s side in Bali after the accident, flying to Denpasar with Mr Malligan’s father and brother.
Mr Malligan underwent emergency brain surgery before generous donors helped fund a $150,000 medevac flight back to Australia on January 4.
But despite best efforts from doctors, Mr Malligan’s family confirmed on Wednesday that his injuries have been deemed irreversible and he has been declared clinically brain dead.
His devastated family are now facing the agonising decision of when to say their final goodbyes and switch off his life support.
“This is the most difficult time of any of our lives and we just can’t be grateful enough to have been able to get him home for everyone to see him before he leaves us,’ Mrs Malligan told Daily Mail Australia.
She described her husband as a “great dad, husband and friend, with a generous and loving nature who will be missed by all.”
“He was always up for a good laugh and would do anything to put a smile on someone’s face, she said.
“There was nothing more valuable than seeing how excited he was when he got home to give his Ivy girl a great big cuddle.
“They then would play constantly until it was dinner and bedtime. He loved her so much and she doesn’t love anyone else as much as she loved Kev.”
The heartbreaking update was posted to the family’s GoFundMe page yesterday, which has now raised over $118,000.
“Our hearts are broken today as Kevin has officially been pronounced as brain dead,” the post read.
“The doctors have done all relevant testing over the last few days. This has been a distressing experience for all of us.
“Leah would like to thank everyone from the bottom of her heart who has donated, helped, sent messages to help her and the family at this time.
“She and the Malligan family now has the awful decision of when to turn off his life support.
“We are sending all our love and prayers for strength at this time to our daughter and Kevin’s family.
“Once again thank you for donating to Kevin’s accident. Leah is so thankful that some of the financial burden has been eased at this time by your generosity.
“Leah is so grateful for the financial support to get Kevin home and being able to spend quality time to say goodbye.”
Mrs Malligan explained that Kevin was riding on the back of a moped his friend was driving when the pair “hit a bump” and he was flung off.
She highlighted that her husband was not doing anything “silly” or drinking, when the crash happened.
In November, police in Bali announced that they were cracking down on tourists using motorbikes following the death of three foreigners on the roads in one district in the space of one month.
AKP Bachtiar Arifin, head of traffic unit for Buleleng Police, where the three fatal incidents took place, told reporters that changes must be made.
“What is clear is that we will carry out outreach to rental services and hotels, including limiting and selectively using motorbikes, especially foreign nationals,” he said, as reported by The Bali Sun.
That outlet also reported hotels who provide motorbike rental services will be asked to take preventive steps including accompanying foreign guests on motorbikes.
He said police would “increase patrols in places where there are many foreigners” and “carry out law enforcement” if foreigners are found to be breaking traffic laws, including not having an international driver’s licence or wearing a helmet.
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