Josh Richardson back in the UK but facing long road to recovery

JOSH RICHARDSON: Spent more than two months in a Bangkok hospital following a motorcycling accident while on holiday in Thailand.

JOSH RICHARDSON, the former Bradford Bulldogs player who suffered horrific injuries during a motorcycling accident in Thailand, is finally back in the UK.

And while his family, friends along with current and former team-mates will be relieved to learn he is home, the 24-year-old still faces a long road to recovery.

Josh had to undergo several surgeries while in Thailand after suffering severe head injuries in the accident, which happened in the early hours of February 3, just hours after his arrival in the country on holiday with a friend from university.

Soon after news came out of Josh’s accident, a Go Fund Me page was launched by Bulldogs NIHL team manager and close family friend Joanne Gibson.

Along with his current hockey team, Division One North’s Deeside Dragons, the Bulldogs helped raise awareness of Josh’s plight and the rising medical bills he and his family were facing in Thailand.

So far, more than £36,000 has been pledged to the Go Fund Me page and although some of that money will cover the £20,000 cost of his flight home from Thailand, fund-raising is still ongoing to help cover the cost of his medical fees while out in Thailand, believed to be around £100,000.

After flying home from Bangkok late last week, he is now being cared for and treated at Royal Preston Hospital but is expected to require long-term treatment while he continues his recovery.

As Josh made his way home, he was accompanied by a doctor, two nurses and his dad Jim, who had stayed with his son the entire time he was in hospital.

ONCE A BULLDOG: Josh Richardson, pictured in action for the Bulldogs during the 2021-22 NIHL Division Two North season. Picture by Andy Bourke.

In an interview with the Lancashire Evening Post, Josh’s mum Susan said: “We are so relieved and thankful that we have been able to get him back home close to his family and friends.

“He has now had his peg tube removed and started eating a balanced diet and taking fluids. He has had his catheter removed, however this was very painful due to the amount of time it was in.

“He is now on the high dependency neuro ward at Royal Preston Hospital. He is currently undergoing further tests and a CT scan.”

The Bulldogs are continuing to help raise funds to cover the cost of Josh Richardson’s medical fees while in hospital in Thailand. If you are able to donate, head over to the Go Fund Me page to make your pledge HERE