news

Bali hit-and-run victim in induced coma after 13-hour surgery expected to have no memory when she wakes.

A woman “left for dead” in a hit-and-run accident in Bali is expected to have no memory of the incident when she awakes after her 13-hour marathon surgery.

Newcastle woman Victoria Van de Stadt, 25, and her boyfriend Louis Macindoe, 26, were knocked from their rented scooter by a car while on holiday in Kuta last Wednesday night.

Ms Van de Stadt suffered the most severe injuries of the pair when she was launched face-first into a roadside tree.

Yesterday she underwent 13 hours of surgery to plant titanium plates in her cheeks and piece together her split jaw and smashed eye socket, nose and palate at Perth Royal Hospital and is now in an induced coma.

Louis Macindoe and Victoria Van de Stadt were holidaying in Bali. (Image via Instagram)

Her boyfriend also had surgery after suffering injuries to his head and face and woke with "no recollection" of the events, according to Ms Van de Stadt's mother Tracey Priestley.

Ms Priestley told News.com.au she was overwhelmed preparing for her daughter to wake, which would possibly be later today. It is expected Ms Van de Stadt won't remember anything either.

“I expect for her to be freaking out I guess; I’ve just got no idea how to prepare,” she said.

“I feel like it will just be incredibly confronting for her and I don’t know how she’s going to take it or what happens in these situations.

"You see in the movies people open their eyes and wake up and start talking, but I’ve been told it’s not going to be like that.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Ms Van de Stadt faces a long recovery - it is expected she will be unable to eat and speak months and will have difficulty walking due to spinal injuries she suffered.

“Tori’s strong, she’s really healthy, but this isn’t like anything she’s been through,” Ms Priestley said.

A friend of the hairdresser, Hayley McCloy, has launched a fundraising campaign that has already raised more than $67,000 to go towards covering the family’s travels and hospital expenses.

Tori Van de Stadt's friend has created a fundraising page for her. (Image via GoFundMe)
ADVERTISEMENT

“With a long road of recovery ahead, Tori must undergo major facial reconstructive surgery and ongoing treatment,” Ms McCloy wrote on the gofundme page.

“The international hospital fees and travel expenses to transport her safely back to Australia have already amounted to over $60,000 dollars.”

The couple were reportedly on their way back from dinner on their final night in Bali when they were struck.

Two passersby came across them and found their motorbike “folded in half” in the middle of the road. The couple were bleeding and unconscious in a nearby ditch.

“The guy that found Tori had to keep her airways open for over an hour until the ambulance arrived because her face was so smashed up,” Ms Priestley told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“We don’t know how long they were there for.”

Mr Macindoe wrote a tribute to his girlfriend on Instagram alongside the last photo he took of her in Bali.

I'm sending cosmic healing vibes and loving energies across to Perth for my love @torivandagram. This was the last photo I had on my phone before the incident that resulted in both of us becoming hospitalised. I've been operated on and gathered enough sense to operate my phone, sort of. Tori is still undergoing surgery and I need for you all to be still keeping her in your thoughts. It's hard to get any purchase on what happened given the circumstances, it's the first time in my life that I've come that close to wiping out completely. While you might consider yourself to be pretty well versed on two wheels, sometimes your number can just be up. I'm completely overwhelmed with happiness knowing how much love and support has come from you all. The next little while will be particularly challenging for Tori as she makes her recovery and a gofundme page has been set up to assist her with ongoing medical expenses. Also, @izmoot who's just organised an incredible bunch of shows in both Melb and Sydney is having a party for us at the @thefamilyhotelnewcastle this Friday night. There's going to be a ride from Sydney to Newcastle and you can all stay in my room while I'm away as long as you can deal with the giant rat in the roof. Thank you everyone, lots of love ❤️❤️❤️

A photo posted by Louis Macindoe (@louistalksmacindoe) on

ADVERTISEMENT

“This was the last photo I had on my phone before the incident that resulted in both of us becoming hospitalised,” he wrote.

“I’ve been operated on and gathered enough sense to operate my phone, sort of. Tori is still undergoing surgery and I need for you all to be still keeping her in your thoughts.

“It’s hard to get any purchase on what happened given the circumstances, it’s the first time in my life that I’ve come that close to wiping out completely.

“While you might consider yourself to be pretty well versed on two wheels, sometimes your number can just be up.”

Feature image: Instagram.