Netizens are rallying to raise funds for an aerial acrobatic performer who broke her neck after falling 13 feet when the rig she was hanging from suddenly dropped down, during a live performance at a Canggu beach club.
Horrifying footage of the technical malfunction during the fateful performance at Finns Beach Club on Oct. 26 shows an acrobat, contortionist known as “Sam Panda” doing stunts from a suspended hoop. Without warning, the rig plummeted down and the woman landed directly on her head and neck.
A crowdfunding page called “Sam fell 13 ft & broke her neck” was launched on Nov. 2 for the woman on GoFundMe in a desperate bid to raise money for the woman’s medical evacuation to Singapore or Taiwan so she can undergo surgery by specialists.
“She somehow survived but has multiple fractures in her neck and a shard of bone stuck in her spinal cord which is preventing her from walking,” reads the GoFundMe page’s bio, set up by Olivia Leonie.
Panda did have a work permit and was insured by her employer, but the employer’s insurance won’t cover the medical evacuation itself, according to the crowdfunding page, which also noted that the acrobat’s case is time sensitive: “the longer Sam stays in Bali, the higher the risk that these debilitating injuries are irreversible.”
As of Friday afternoon, just over US$9,000 has been raised of the page’s US$40,000 goal, which the page claims is the amount quoted for an evacuation out of Bali.
Sam Panda posted an update to her Facebook page early on Friday morning, writing from the hospital.
“It’s 5 am, and I’m in the hospital still unable to sleep, so I’m posting this picture from a few weeks ago of me being silly on the floor in my house,” Panda wrote, continuing on that she will persevere and do “whatever I can to get myself back to me.”
After a request for comment on the incident, Finns Beach Club sales executive, Yuda, responded to Coconuts Bali with the following statement on Nov. 4:
Sam is being treated in one of Bali’s best International hospitals and we are in constant communication with her and her family.
We have been assured by the hospital that she is in excellent care with the best specialists looking after her. All medical expenses are being paid by Finns Bali
Naturally we are all hoping for her speedy recover (sic).
The same beach club was embroiled in controversy just a couple of months ago when Grammy-winner Macy Gray gave a highly disappointing performance in Sept. 2017.
UPDATE: This story was updated on Nov. 4, 2017 to include a statement from Finns Beach Club.
Jenna Robinette says
Update to all asking about the medevac: Finns has not paid for anything nor have they passed on any well wishes nor been in contact with the performer daily as they are claiming in their responses. We know this because WE are in daily contact with her.
The gofundme has been a success (thank you all so much!) and there is finally enough money to pay for a medevac plane.
Right now, the medevac will not fly without clearance from the hospital and as Sam’s condition has worsened, it took until just today for all clearance to go through, as long as she flies with a doctor, a nurse, and her husband and has proper medical equipment on board hence the exorbitant cost.
Now that clearance has been given, the SOS company can begin processing her paperwork and finding the medical staff with proper visas to make the flight with her. She will be flying out sometime this week, but we don’t yet know an exact day. Unfortunately this process takes a few business days.
NOTE To address some concerns: She is not going to Singapore because she has medical insurance in Taiwan, and we have already arranged the surgery with one of the top neurosurgeons and spinal trauma specialists in Asia. She also has a rehab specialist there, a support group and family because that is her home.
She is not going to Australia, because she is of American nationality and does not have a visa to enter Australia. Also, as previously stated because her husband is Taiwanese she has medical coverage there for her surgery and rehab.
Thank you everyone for your ongoing support with the gofundme and the outpouring of positivity and love. Once the medevac dates are approved we will take the money from the gofundme and pay everything that needs to be paid.
Sam will still have a long road to recover and will be out of work for a long time (possibly forever in her field), so your messages of support will be appreciated for a good while.
Again, thank you so much, and we will continue to update while we can.