Wednesday 10 August 2022 08:10 PM British student, 19, paralysed in bison attack maybe stuck in US as 'health ... trends now
A British student who was paralysed after a 2,000lb bison gored her and tossed her 15ft in the air may be left stranded in the US after her health insurance said it will withdraw support.
Amelia Dean - known as Mia - was travelling in South Dakota during a gap year road trip when the beast tore the femoral artery in her left thigh during the shocking attack on June 16.
While she was fighting for her life in hospital, her parents Matthew and Jacqueline launched a GoFundMe to raise £140,000 to transfer their daughter to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for specialist treatment.
They had hoped to raise enough money for the extensive treatment the 19-year-old required in the US.
However, shocking healthcare insurance rules mean Mia and her family have been faced with a grim decision after her provider let them know they plan to withdraw support.
The decision before the family is to either fly home to Brockham in Surrey on insurance this weekend before she is ready, or stay in the US where she will essentially become stranded without health care insurance.
Amelia 'Mia' Dean, 19, from Brockham, Surrey, has been told by her health care insurer that she must fly home this weekend before they withdraw funding for her case
19-year-old Amelia 'Mia' Dean from Brockham, Surrey, is paralysed after a 2,000lb bison tore the femoral artery in her left thigh during a shocking attack in South Dakota
Although Miss Dean and her friend had spotted the animal (pictured) 100 feet away, she was 'shocked into stillness' as it charged towards her
The decision is difficult because her family want her to recover better in the US before making the transatlantic journey back to the UK.
Mia's parents said the health insurance had paid for the femoral artery bypass,but will not pay for the initial examination by the specialist of her nerve injury
Mia was in critical condition as the bison completely severed her femoral artery and caused catastrophic damage to her tibial and peroneal nerves.
She has been under the American healthcare system since the attack on June 16.
Her parents said: 'Since launching this fundraiser, Mia's situation has changed and we have had to make some difficult decisions.
'Our daughter's health is our top priority and we want to get her home as safely as possible.
'Now the insurance company has given us an ultimatum: to fly Mia home by air ambulance this weekend, after which they will withdraw funding for her case.'
Fundraising has so far raised £60,000 of their £140,000 target.
Mia's parents initially wanted the money to cover testing at a specialist clinic but have now discovered the air ambulance home will cost more than £100,000.
They are hoping to fly her back to the UK this weekend via air ambulance.
As Mia, from Brockham, Surrey, lay bleeding and injured at the 71,000 acre Custer State Park, the wild beast - one of 1,500 in the reserve
