Thai hospital denies UK media report on rescued British actor

SURAT THANI, July 22 (TNA) -- A hospital on Koh Samui Island denies a UK media report that British movie star Paul Nicholls was being charged for over Bt4 million following his waterfall accident. The star, 38, survived the accident in which he reportedly fell of his motorcycle and had been trapped at the foot of the Khun Si Waterfall for three days. When a local spotted him, he was unconscious and later taken by emergency service to Thai International Hospital on July 13. The Sun reported on the incident citing a source who said that the actor had flown to Thailand as he was "between filming." “He needs surgery. But it’s going to cost £90,000 (Bt4 million) for him to have it in Thailand," the source was quoted as saying. The newspaper also posted a video clip of Nicholls being rescued. Doctors and executives of the Hospital said in a press conference on Friday that after receiving emergency treatments for hypothermia and injured leg Nicholls asked about the medical cost. The private hospital informed that he would need another surgery on his right leg that cost around Bt500,000, not Bt4 million as reported by the British newspaper, said Dr Dulayakij Withayajanyapong, a hospital director of medicine. The Doctor also said Nicholls then asked for a transfer to the government-run Samui Hospital. He added that the hospital had not received the payment of Bt46,000 for emergency treatment. The actor is now in a stable condition at Samui Hospital, his medical bill there is at about Bt43,830. District Chief of Samui Klanarong Yuthitham said the safety issue involving foreign tourists was often by their negligence warning signs, entering dangerous terrain. With the help of villagers who spotted his motorcycle, the man survived three days in agony inside a jungle infested with snakes, mosquitoes, spiders and leeches. (TNA)