Global appeal to find donor for British crash victim with rare blood type

The family of a woman involved in a serious moped crash in Thailand have made an urgent appeal for people with the same rare blood type as her to come forward.

Lucy Hill, 21, was just one week into her gap year after graduating from Leeds Beckett University when her moped was hit by a car on Saturday morning at around 7.30am local time.

She was rushed to hospital for treatment to a bleed on her brain and had emergency surgery to insert titanium plates to her broken hip.

Lucy's mother, Alison, has flown to Thailand to be at her bedside, along with travelling companion, Lauren Hall.

Lucy is currently fighting for her life, and is anemic after losing blood during surgery. However, her 'A Negative' blood type is rare among people of Asian origin, and an international appeal has been issued to find donors in the country.

Writing on Facebook, her friend Lauren said:

Doctors say less than one percent of the Thai population have the same blood type as Lucy, so her family and friends are pleading for ex-pats and those travelling in the country to come forward and donate.

Originally from Bury, Lucy was planning on continuing her studies and training to become a teacher when she returned from her travels. Her family are receiving assistance from the British Consul in Thailand.

Speaking to ITV News, her father, Phil said he is struggling to come to terms with the news:

Anyone in Thailand who matches Lucy's blood type have been asked to attend the Maharaja Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital at 8.30am on Monday morning for a blood test.

Anyone attending should make clear they want the blood to be sent to Lucy Anne Hill at Rajavej Chiang Mai Hospital.

Meanwhile, Lucy's friends have set up a crowdfunding page to help pay for her treatment.