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A British man is in a coma in Bali after a horrific motorcycle crash left him with severe head trauma.

Reuben Armstrong lost control on a tight corner and hit a wall in the island’s main city, Denpasar. He fractured the left side of his skull.

His friends say his travel insurer refused to pay out because he was not wearing a helmet. Doctors are said to have efused to operate until his family paid £12,000 for the procedure.

The funds were eventually raised by friends and Mr Armstrong’s employer Ian Stratford-Taylor CEO of Equals PLC. 

Family and friends of the 27-year-old are now battling to raise enough money to make sure Mr Armstrong gets the treatment he needs and can be flown home when his condition improves.

Mr Armstrong has lived in London since he was 18 but spends four to five months of the year in Bali where he works as a web developer for a travel payment card company.

“They [the hospital] wouldn’t act until we paid then £12,000, they wouldn’t even prep him for surgery, it was horrible,” said Lincoln Savage, Mr Armstrong’s best friend and work colleague. 

“We don’t know what damage was done during that time,” he added. “It took 20 hours for the money to be raised.”

Mr Savage confirmed Mr Armstrong remains in an induced coma but they are hopeful he will be woken up soon. His mother Diane and grandmother have flown out to Bali today to be with him.

Mr Armstrong is supposed to be best man in Mr Savage’s wedding next year to fiancee Kirsty Boddy and they are desperate to see he returns back to the UK.

Mr Savage, who is flying out to the island tomorrow, said: “Until he wakes up we won’t know what condition he is in but all the news so far has been positive. It’s about bringing him around and finding a way of getting him home so he can be treated by the NHS.”

A fundraising page has been set up to pay for Mr Armstrong’s rapidly inflating medical costs which could come to £50,000 or more.

“It’s just killing me. He’s the kindest guy I’ve ever met, so many people have said that to me since this happened,” said Mr Savage.

“He would do anything for anyone and is the embodiment of positivity. I know I’m biased because he’s my best friend but he’s a superstar.”

Colleagues of Mr Armstrong’s have each willingly given up a day’s pay and cancelled their company Christmas party to put the funds towards his care.

“It is a testament to how much of a lovely bloke he is and how many people care about him,” said Mr Savage.

Friends of Mr Armstrong’s in Bali, Karunia and Ainsley have remained by Mr Armstrong’s side throughout the ordeal.

London roommate and best friend’s fiancee Ms Boddy said: “We want him to wake up. We want him home.”

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