Negril motorcycle smash leaves 19-year-old Terrell Tulloch in critical care

Nineteen-year-old Terrell Tulloch had lined up a full day for his birthday on Saturday, June 11 — time with relatives, then a boat trip in Ocho Rios, St Ann. Those plans never unfolded. On June 19 he was hurt in a motorcycle crash in Negril and is now fighting for survival at Hospiten, a private facility in Montego Bay, St James. Relatives are asking the public for money as the cost of his care keeps rising.

“So far he has done two surgeries and one of the bones in his head was removed and placed on a refrigerator. He is supposed to do another surgery to put it back in. People may wonder why we choose a private hospital but the public ones are full. We tried our best to get him a space in one, but we just couldn’t. We would readily take a space at KPH if we get the chance, because so far, we have spent over $13 million and the bill is climbing. We would appreciate every dollar that a person can contribute,” said Alicia Gilpin, Tulloch’s aunt.

Speaking for the family, Gilpin said her nephew was flung from the bike while heading toward Negril.

“One of his neighbours asked him to take him to Negril suh him come out the house and left his helmet on the dresser and went to take him. On the way, a car driver crashed into them. The driver told me he didn’t see them. Terrell drop a good distance from where he was hit off the bike and he lost consciousness immediately,” Gilpin said.

He was taken to Savanna La Mar Public General Hospital, where tests showed serious brain trauma.

“The first scan we did came to almost $300,000 as we had to get it done privately. The hospital said they do not have the resources to take care of him. We tried to get him transferred but all of the public hospitals are full. Hospiten offered to accept him but they said we needed to give them $2.6 million before they do anything for him due to how severe his injuries were,” she said.

“The hospital bill goes up daily. Thankfully, we were able to hold fundraisers and persons contribute and we are so grateful. We also have a GoFundMe. We know he has a long way to recovery and we are asking anyone who is not in a position to offer monetary donation to just pray for Terrell. He is young and has his entire life ahead of him and we just want to get him back to the person he was,” Gilpin added.

A family member reported that Tulloch can respond with hand signs, though he is still in the intensive care unit because swelling on the brain has not fully settled.

Anyone who wants to help may deposit funds to Alicia Gilpin’s Scotiabank checking account, number 92825, at the Negril branch, or to Kvon Gilpin’s NCB savings account, number 604422655, also at the Negril branch. Support is likewise being accepted through https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-support-for-terrells-recovery