Calgary teacher hit by car in Taiwan dies of his injuries
CBC News | Posted: December 14, 2016 7:32 PM | Last Updated: December 15, 2016
John Kelly, who was teaching English overseas, suffered head injuries and many broken bones
A Calgary man who was severely injured when he was hit by a car in Taiwan has died, his family says.
John Kelly, who had been teaching English in Taichung for the last three years, was walking home from work on Oct. 1 when a car struck him — throwing him almost 10 metres.
The 31-year-old suffered a head injury and several broken bones.
His family had to raise funds through GoFundMe to fly him back to Calgary, which cost over $60,000.
Kelly, who leaves behind a three-year-old daughter, had no medical insurance through his employer.
His father, Jack Kelly, said assessments at the hospital in Calgary showed his son would likely never recover and the decision was made to let him go in a dignified manner.
"It was discovered that the damage to John's brain was severe and parts where extensively damaged, enough so that he would never recover from his injuries," said Jack Kelly in a statement.
"The heartbreaking decision was made to allow John to go peacefully."
The family had to foot several medical bills before Kelly was brought home, which his father told CBC News in October had reached about $25,000 Canadian.
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