Police say Daniel, 21, originally from Australia but living in Phuket, was involved in a motorbike accident earlier this month, but he and his family and friends say the mysterious circumstances point more to a severe beating than a bike crash.
Daniel was left with a fractured skull, haemorrhaging and compression on the brain, air bubbles in the brain, a shattered eye socket, jaw broken in three places, four lost teeth, a fractured vertebra, nerve damage to his neck and shoulder, a fracture in the skull between his nose and upper lip and 45 stitches in his head after, his family say, he was bashed in the Saiyuan Rd area in the early hours of June 8.
Speaking to The Phuket News on Wednesday from his parents’ home where he is recovering, Daniel said he was feeling a lot stronger this week and his surgery scars were healing very well.
“I want to fight again. I’m just focused on recovering now. All I care about is getting better. I’m taking things day by day. I think my recovery is going well but I wish I could fast-forward.
“The most frustrating thing is that I don’t know how I ended up in this situation, I’ve [still] got no idea.”
His Phuket friends had been visiting him every second day and his family were taking care of him around the clock. He had been overwhelmed by the response to his story, he said.
“I’m surprised it made the news in Australia, because it’s not a rare occurrence [that an Australian is injured while overseas]. I made the front page in the Gold Coast Bulletin, and people have been messaging me and donating money.
“It helps because it shows people do care. Thanks to everyone who has given me support. I deeply appreciate it. There’s nothing I can do to show just how much I do appreciate it.”
Daniel’s parents, Steve and Debbie Ketley who also live in Phuket, said Daniel visited Bangkok Hospital Phuket late last week for an MRI and other brain scans.
The brain scans showed the air bubbles in Daniel’s brain have disappeared, but he still cannot move his right arm. The neurologist believes this is from his spinal injury, rather than nerve damage, Mrs Ketley said.
“As for permanent damage, the doctors don’t know. It all depends on how the area heals on its own. In six to eight weeks we should know the extent of the damage, his movement ability and what operations and treatment he needs. Not even the doctors can tell, it’s just time.”
“He’s feeling stronger but he knows it is a waiting game. Thankfully he’s a very patient person by nature. He’s grateful – he came so close to death. He wants to get back into the ring, he wants to fight – he’s very determined.
“This has been his career, his life, since he showed us Muay Thai at 16 and said, ‘I’m going to be a champion at that.’”
Around B188,000 has been raised so far for Daniel’s medical expenses, after his initial operations maxed out his insurance. But the Ketley family say a lot more money will be needed for future operations. They are hoping people will continue to donate to a Paypal account by visiting the Daniel Ketley Fund on Facebook.