02-06-2025
Perth man Thanh Phan in critical condition after being hit by e-scooter on dinner trip to city
A 51-year-old man remains in critical condition after being hit by an e-scooter allegedly being ridden by a woman under the influence of alcohol.
Thanh Phan was going out for dinner in Perth's CBD when he was struck, at the intersection of Murray and King streets.
Mr Phan was taken to Royal Perth Hospital, has undergone surgery, and remains in the intensive care unit.
Friends of the engineer said his family was anxiously waiting for any sign of improvement.
"When we visited, they said he had a very brief period of waking up again and being able to say his name and he knew where he was," neighbour Siobhan O'Halloran told the ABC.
"But the swelling in the brain was such that they had to operate to save him."
Ms O'Halloran said Mr Phan's family had already recently endured hardship after his wife Loan Phan had a suspected stroke.
"He eventually helped her with rehabilitation and has been working from home ever since to support her. One of their boys has very high-needs autism and she spends a lot of her time caring for him," Ms O'Halloran said.
Ms O'Halloran's husband Lee Carroll said Ms Phan was struggling to come to terms with her husband's condition.
"She's just still in shock, she's just in denial," Mr Carroll said.
"She speaks English as her second language [and] is now facing this heartbreaking crisis alone — caring for their sons, navigating a complex medical system, and trying to stay strong while her husband remains in a critical condition."
Mr Carroll has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help support the family, which depends on Mr Phan's income.
"The sudden loss of income will only make this harder. Loan is doing her best, but she needs our help," the fundraiser read.
Mr Carroll said Mr Phan and his wife were always very generous with their time.
"When we got COVID in our house, he and Loan brought over trays and trays of food, we didn't know them that well [at the time]," he said.
"He's always been very, very friendly, affectionate and kind and gentle.
"He's loved having our kids over at his house, he shows them the fish pond that he made and the budgies that they have, he's just very kind and very gentle man."
Ms O'Halloran said it was "terrible" to hear the news Mr Phan had been struck by an e-scooter.
"Other states have already ended the trial of e-scooters in the city because there are so many deaths and serious injuries arising from them," she said.
"For this to happen … as somebody tries to get to a restaurant in the city, I feel like everyone I talk to doesn't want to take their children or doesn't want to spend time in the city unless they have to."
Police allege 24-year-old Alicia Kemp was riding the e-scooter with a passenger when she hit Mr Phanh on Saturday evening. Ms Kemp is due to reappear in the Perth Magistrates Court today.
The passenger, a 26-year-old woman, was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Ms Kemp, who the court has already heard was visiting WA, has been charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, and dangerous driving causing bodily harm, while under the influence of alcohol.
