Mr Clark, 37, was driving home on his motorbike from Ao Yon on April 2 around 9pm, around 10 minutes ahead of Cathy, who was following behind also on a motorbike.
A cat came out on the road and Mr Clark moved to avoid it, and then looked in his side mirror to check he had missed it. He then hit the concrete curb and his bike flipped and hit a metal fence.
He flew off and landed on his head, suffering multiple fractures to the top part of his spine. He is now in Vachira Hospital Phuket, unable to move his legs.
When Mrs Coles-Clark reached the scene, she found about 30 locals there and her husband lying on the road.
“I screamed. I threw my helmet on the ground and ran to him,” she said.
The ambulance came promptly and Mr Clark was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where he was put on a respirator.
The next day he was transferred to Vachira Hospital Phuket, where he remains in ICU, unable to move his legs and with limited movement in his arms.
Mr Clark had surgery on his spine on April 5 to secure the fractures.
“Every day he’s been making progress with movement, and the movement he’s got back in his arms has been very, very positive,” his wife said.
“He has sensation in his upper arms, and he can lift his arms. He has no feeling in his legs, and also a collapsed lung. The surgeon said he is unable to make an accurate prognosis for a least six months.”
He has a tracheotomy so is able to mouth words to his wife, and also to his mother Valerie and sister Louise, who travelled to Phuket when they heard of the crash.
Mr Clark is covered by insurance. He has AIA accident insurance, which covered up to B100,000, all of which was used up during his stay at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
He is also covered by social insurance by his work (he is the general manager of Coral Seekers), which will cover at least three months of care.
At the moment he is not having to pay any money to stay in ICU, and so far has only paid B55,000 to cover specialist surgical equipment shipped from Bangkok for his operation.
Mrs Coles-Clark, an English teacher, credits her husband’s full face helmet, which he bought in the United Kingdom, for “absolutely” saving his life.
“There’s no doubt about it – whether it saved his life, as in he’s still alive, or saved it as in he doesn’t have brain damage. I want to raise awareness about the necessity of wearing a helmet.”
To help with this, well known Thai singer Singto Numchok is helping to organise a benefit concert in Phuket to help raise awareness and support Mr Clark.
Singto is a good friend of the couple – who have lived in Phuket for seven years since moving from the United Kingdom – and even played at their wedding. The singer is well known in Phuket circles and when his wife found out about Mr Clark, he wanted to help.
He is taking time out from touring to fly to Phuket today to visit Mr Clark in hospital.
Singto, Mrs Coles-Clark and other friends are organising the concert, but details are yet to be confirmed. It will be held in May in Phuket.
“The support has been phenomenal,” Mrs Coles-Clark said.
“I want to thank everyone who has been supporting us, whether it has been making phone calls, bringing food, or offering rides.
“[Stuart’s] been so strong, and I’m so proud of him.”