LIFE TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN FOR THE WORSE... (Episode 356)
22 March 2026 · 23 min · 224K views · Bangkok
Injured sailor climbs ladder onto boat with crutches
What this video covers
Colin ruptures his Achilles tendon completely during a rugby training sprint in Bangkok, requiring surgery at Samitivej Hospital at a cost of $7,500 USD — without travel insurance, bringing his total medical bill to at least $8,500 USD.8:32 The injury occurs in the final five minutes of his first training session after a 10-year break from rugby; he feels a snap, finds a gap in the tendon, and takes himself to hospital.5:37 An MRI confirms a full rupture with a three-centimetre gap.5:47 He chooses minimally invasive surgical repair over non-operative treatment, citing a desire to remain active, and the surgeon — who has performed 200 such surgeries with only two re-ruptures — reconnects the tendon within 24 hours of injury.9:42 Recovery requires zero weight on the foot for three weeks, then a medical boot for several months.15:01 The episode also covers a full rudder rebuild on the Lagoon 450 Parlay Revival: both water-logged rudders are stripped of old foam, refilled with two-part expanding foam at a 1:1 ratio, shaped, and laminated with six layers of biaxial fiberglass wetted with epoxy, with micro balloons mixed into leftover resin for a chemical-bonded fairing coat.4:31 A replacement rudder bearing ordered from Lagoon in France is the remaining hold-up before splashing.3:55 Colin's blunt takeaway: buy travel insurance before you need it.
Boats in this video
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