Boyfriend of woman involved in ‘catastrophic’ rope swing accident explains why he's started fundraiser
The boyfriend of a woman who suffered a 'catastrophic' genital injury during a rope swing accident has explained why the couple felt they had no choice but to ask for financial help.
Kirsten Lindsey, from Louisiana, was on what was supposed to be her first-ever cruise when a holiday excursion in Honduras turned into what her husband Blake Ford described as 'the worst experience of our lives'.
According to Blake, the accident happened on day three of the trip after what appeared to be a retrieval line was incorrectly attached to the rope swing.
"As she swung out, the line tightened between her legs just before she dropped, causing a catastrophic injury," he wrote on the couple's GoFundMe page.
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At first, Kirsten believed she had escaped with only a minor injury.
"She even walked back to our transportation trying to laugh through the pain," Blake explained.
But things quickly took a turn.
"The swelling became severe, the pain became unbearable, and she eventually needed a wheelchair just to get back to our cabin," he said.
Blake claimed the swelling eventually reached 'roughly the size of a baseball', with Kirsten spending around 26 hours in the ship's medical facility before the couple opted for an emergency air evacuation to the US.
According to the fundraiser, the ship's doctors gave them three options: air evacuate to the United States, be taken to a hospital in Cozumel and find their own way home, or remain in the ship's medical facility for the rest of the cruise.
The couple chose the emergency evacuation, but Blake said they were told they needed 'a $20,000 deposit, another $30,000 upon arrival in the US, and had only a few hours to make that decision'.
He also claimed that while waiting to leave the ship, Kirsten's condition became so serious that medical staff 'were trying to keep her awake because she would stop breathing whenever she drifted off from the pain medication'.
Kirsten has since undergone surgery in the US, with Blake previously claiming doctors told them they had 'never seen anything like' her injury.
Explaining why he launched the fundraiser, Blake said the financial impact of the accident has been 'overwhelming'.
He wrote that the money raised will go towards 'Emergency medical expenses', 'Air evacuation and transportation costs', 'Hospital bills and follow-up care', 'Travel and lodging while she recovers', and 'Getting us and our vehicle home safely'.
He added: "The financial impact has been overwhelming. Between emergency transportation, medical expenses, travel, lodging, lost income, and the unexpected costs of getting ourselves and our vehicle back home, the expenses continue to grow."
Blake also thanked those who had already supported the couple, writing: "If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Kirsten in your thoughts and prayers means just as much to us."
Since returning home, Kirsten has also shared an update after discovering fake fundraisers had started appearing online.
Taking to Facebook, she warned: "We are getting reports that there are people setting up GoFundMes under Blake’s name or calling to donate to said 'campaign'.
"WE DO NOT HAVE A CAMPAIGN. We have 1 GoFundMe account & that is it."
She continued: "Please be aware & don’t let people scam you trying to profit from my injuries. Please only use the links that me, Blake Ford or Tara McKinney share.
"I can’t believe I’m even having to get on here to say this. I’m now home finally & trying to get settled in. I want to say thank you a million times to everyone so much for your love & support. It does not go unnoticed."
In the comments, Kirsten added that asking for financial help was 'out of their comfort zone'.
A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line previously said: "We are aware of reports regarding a guest who was injured while independently exploring Honduras.
"After returning to the ship, the guest was promptly cared for by our onboard medical team, which provided treatment and facilitated access to additional medical resources.
"While the incident did not occur on a Carnival-sponsored excursion, we remain concerned for the guest's recovery.
"The safety and well-being of our guests is always our top priority."
Rhiannon Ingle