DESTIN, Fla. — A Florida man now living in Bali is fighting for his life after he fell from a roof while chasing a monkey that had stolen his favorite Pittsburgh Steelers cap.
The Northwest Florida Daily News reported that Jeff “Swede” Swedenhjelm fell 33 feet (10 meters) on Monday.
Villagers took him to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe damage to his spinal cord. He currently is paralyzed from the chest down.
His daughter Lyric Swedenhjelm, a college student, told nwf daily news that their utmost concern is to get Swede out of Bali and into a country with a spinal specialist, “All I want for Christmas or my birthday is for my dad to get this surgery as soon as possible.”
Lyric Swedenhjelm, who lives in Destin, said Swedenhjelm is in a medically induced coma and is on a ventilator.
Swede has no medical insurance and no money, according to Lyric.
A person named Swe De has started a GoFundMe fundraising page, which has already raised $73,372. It will cost about $30,000 to get him to Singapore and another $30,000 to get him treatment. The goal on the page is $100,000.
“I have never been the one to ask for help, especially in monetary form, but any help will be taken to heart. Thank you all in advance. One Love. <3 Swede,” stated on the GoFundMe page.
The Associated Press
