Australian Father Left With Complex Pain Syndrome After Buggy Crash At 5-Star Bali Resort

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An Australian father of two has spoken to the media about the aftermath of his terrifying ordeal at the Karma Kandara Resort in Ungasan close to Uluwatu in Bali.

The incident took place as the family was being transported from the resort to the pool. 

What was set to be a dreamy vacation on the Island of the Gods ended in tragedy for the Perth-based family of four.

Curtis Bransby, his wife, and their two young daughters aged 3 and 5 were enjoying their holiday at Karma Kandara Resort.

The hotel and resort complex spans over the clifftop and beachside at the private Karma Beach, next to Pantai Melasti. 

Bransby and his family were being transported on a buggy from the resort to the poolside on the 20th of September 2023.

They were driven by a member of staff down a road that he described to reporters as “steep and slippery”.

Curtis’ three-year-old daughter was on a lap, and his wife and eldest daughter were sitting in the backseat of the buggy as they drove down the hilly pathway. 

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Bransby says that suddenly, the buggy spun out of control and careered into another buggy. In the collision, Bransby was thrown from the vehicle, into the air and was smashed against a brick wall.

Still holding onto his toddler as the collision took place, he was able to shield her from the impact of the wall but bore the brunt of the impact himself. 

His three-year-old daughter escaped with a bruise on her forehead, and his wife and older daughter did not sustain serious injuries either.

However, Bransby has described how the collision “blew my arm to pieces.” He added that he felt his arm “hanging behind my back like a piece of string.”

He has described to the media how he was instantly in immeasurable pain and was transferred to the BIMC Hospital Bali for emergency treatment. 

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The 47-year-old required intensive and immediate surgery to pin his arm back together. He spent nine days in hospital before he was cleared to be transferred home to Perth.

The family had taken out a travel insurance policy that covered $ 26,000 of the medical bills.

However, since returning to Perth, Bransby has been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS), which is a potentially chronic condition characterized as “excess and prolonged pain and inflammation” in a localized area. 

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Bransby told reporters, “I had intense pain for two months straight and now still have throbbing and cramping pains and if I bump or move incorrectly it is unbearable.”

He added, “I have to elevate my arm every night to reduce swelling and when I awake my arm feels like it is in rigor mortis…My bicep feels like it is cramping and going to burst, my wrist feels sprained and my knuckles ache when I close my fingers.”

He has been unable to return to work since the collision, and it is unclear when he will be fit enough to do so.

Bransby and his wife are now anxious as to how they will be able to cover their bills and the mortgage while he is out of work.

Bransby revealed that his parents-in-law have been able to pay $10,000 to prevent them from defaulting on their mortgage, for now. 

Now Bransby is calling for Karma Group to be held accountable for the events that led to the collision. He told reporters “[The hotel] is not admitting liability but it’s morally the right thing to do.”

Bransby has shared a letter that he received from Karma Group, which states their position on his case.

They say that further compensation for the incident “falls outside the coverage provided by our third-party insurance policy”.

The letter from the representative for Karma Kandara and the Karma Group says, “In an effort to expedite your settlement, and as a gesture of goodwill as you are our valued guest, we are prepared to offer you a one-time compensation of USD 5000 as a full and final settlement, without admission to liability.”

Communication between Bransby, his insurance provider, the resort, and their insurance teams is ongoing. The hospitality corporation says that it is “committed to resolving this matter amicably”.

They noted that the safety of their guests is a top priority.