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Busselton grandmother fighting for life after horror fall and drug reaction in Bali

Estelle Ravenscroft, 79, suffered six leg fractures and severe adverse reaction to painkiller

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Sources8 outlets
A Busselton grandmother is fighting for her life in a Bali hospital after a devastating fall left her with six severe fractures and a life-threatening reaction to pain medication.

Estelle Ravenscroft, 79, had been holidaying in Bali with her husband Keith when she slipped in a bathroom and fell into an open stairwell. Suffering from osteoporosis, she fractured both upper legs – three breaks in each. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors manually realigned the fractures before placing her legs in traction using weights.

However, an opioid injection given for pain relief triggered a severe adverse reaction. “Her vital signs plummeted, she began convulsing, and her condition deteriorated so dramatically that her family feared they were about to lose her,” her great niece Brieanna Fisher said.

Fisher said the drug reaction has severely limited the pain relief available during treatment. The medical team placed both legs in traction after the manual realignment, but the incident has left the family fearing the worst. Estelle remains in critical condition at an undisclosed Bali hospital.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly Australian travellers, especially those with pre-existing conditions such as osteoporosis.
  • The incident underscores the serious risks of medical complications abroad and the challenges families face when a loved one becomes critically ill overseas.
  • It serves as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive travel insurance and contingency planning for Australians with health conditions.

Background

Australians are frequent visitors to Bali, and medical emergencies on the island are not uncommon. In this incident, a 79-year-old woman with osteoporosis sustained multiple severe fractures after a fall. The need for manual realignment and the subsequent adverse reaction to pain medication created a critical situation that her family has shared publicly through her great niece. The full details of her current condition and prognosis have not been disclosed.

Key Perspectives

The family: Great niece Brieanna Fisher has described the terrifying moments when Estelle’s condition deteriorated, and the family feared losing her. They remain at her bedside in Bali. The medical team: Hospital staff manually realigned the fractures and placed Estelle’s legs in traction. However, the adverse drug reaction has limited their ability to manage her pain. Observers: The incident raises broader concerns about the level of medical care available to Australian tourists in popular destinations like Bali and the potential financial and logistical implications. No official response from Australian consular services has been reported.

What to Watch

  • Whether Estelle’s condition stabilises in the coming days.
  • The possibility of a medical evacuation to Australia if she is fit to travel.
  • Any family statements or fund-raising efforts related to medical costs or insurance coverage.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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