Kiah Bell-Parsons: Harrowing boat accident leaves Sydney teenager with severe head injuries in Thailand

An Australian teenager has narrowly survived a terrifying ordeal while on a family holiday in Thailand.

Kiah Bell-Parsons was snorkelling near the popular tourist destination of Phi Phi Island with her mother, Nat and sister, Kelsie, when the horrific incident occurred.

After visiting multiple locations in search of the perfect snorkelling spot, the tour guide assured the family it was safe to swim.

But moments after they entered the water, tragedy struck unexpectedly when another boat reversed over the 13-year-old.

“The boat let them out to snorkel, and while I don’t know Phi Phi island, where she was let out to snorkel was very busy with boats,” family friend, Gabrielle Brennan, revealed to news.com.au.

“Nat was still on the boat...and during that time, another boat reversed over Kiah while she was snorkelling.

“Kiah was face down in the water and there was just so much blood. At that point, Nat thought she (Kiah) was dead.”

The Sydney teen, who suffered two skull fractures, a broken eye socket and was vomiting blood at one point, was initially taken to a local medical centre on the island for stitches before being transferred to a hospital on the mainland.

However, due to a significant language barrier, Kiah was moved to a private hospital. According to Ms Brennan, staff at the facility wouldn’t begin treatment without first receiving confirmation of payment.

Ms Brennan, who is involved in Kiah’s netball club, has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs of her medical treatment.

Just over $28,000 has been raised from 326 donations, almost reaching the $30,000 goal.

“Kiah is not just a valued member of our netball community; she is also the sister of Kelsie and daughter of Nat, both of whom have been active and inspiring members of our netball club,” the message on GoFundMe reads.

“This is a tough time for them, and I believe that coming together as a team can provide some comfort and support.

“Let’s show Kiah and her family that they are not alone in this difficult journey, and that we stand with them as a united community.”

The incident has raised serious questions about why the group was allowed to enter the water without any supervision or safety personnel monitoring tourists in the area.

Ms Brennan said: “Because the company had said ‘yes, it’s ok to snorkel’, Nat assumed it was safe and let the girls go into the water. It was close to the shore, and she is now frustrated that nobody was monitoring tourists swimming while the boat was anchored.”