The wife of a man seriously injured in an off-road motorcycle crash in Sharjah has been forced to sell jewellery and prized possessions to pay care costs that could top Dh1.3 million.
Nihal Hingst, 36, came off his motorcycle on October 29 and fell down a cliff near Al Dhaid after braking on a steep corner at speed.
He suffered severe injuries including a broken back, only to find out his health insurance does not pay out for motor accidents. Now his family face a huge medical bill at Burjeel Speciality Hospital, Sharjah.
No other vehicles were involved in the incident where Mr Hingst’s bike skidded, causing him to fall on to hard rocks, shattering his right leg, hand and ribs, and breaking three bones in his neck.
It was a horrific high-velocity accident and caused multiple injuries
Dr Jean Andary,
Burjeel Speciality Hospital, Sharjah
An emergency alert sent from his Apple Watch notified his wife, Candida Karthikeyan, that he was in urgent need of medical support and an ambulance was called.
Although he has now been taken off life-support and is breathing on his own, Mr Hingst faces months and possibly years of rehabilitation and support.
“We are a young family with two daughters aged 10 and 6,” said Ms Karthikeyan. “When the hospital gave us the final report, I was shocked to read he needed life-saving surgery on his neck.“These moments are precious and require me to be at the hospital at all times.
“The last few weeks I have been struggling between my husband fighting for his life and running around requesting the insurance company's support.
“The hospital bills are increasing every day and the billing department keeps chasing me for payments. I have nowhere to go.
“My husband’s employer, friends and relatives have done their part, but he will be in the hospital for a while.”
Mr Hingst underwent a nine-hour life-saving operation, which was completed on October 31.
He then developed pneumonia and doctors were forced to conduct a tracheostomy throat operation to manage his breathing.
“I have exhausted all my savings, sold my jewellery and his friend’s financial support and I have only managed to cover 20 per cent of the bill so far,” said Ms Karthikeyan.
“While there is hope on the horizon for his recovery, it is a long road ahead.”
Several infections post-surgery have delayed recovery and skin graft procedures are due on December 6 to repair the damage.
Mr Hingst, who works for a financial technology company in Dubai, was taken to a hospital in Al Dhaid before being moved to Burjeel Speciality Hospital.
He is expected to remain in hospital for at least another 3 to 4 weeks.
“My biggest worry is his long-term care,” said Ms Karthikeyan. “He can’t even sit properly and only recognises names and faces occasionally.
“There are things I ask him that he does not remember.”
Ms Karthikeyan has been in Dubai for 20 years and has not been to the family home in Al Qusais for more than a week so she can stay at her husband’s bedside.
Dr Jean Andary, a critical care consultant at Burjeel Speciality Hospital, treated Mr Hingst when he was first admitted.
“It was a horrific high-velocity accident, and caused multiple injuries,” he said.
“It was horrible during the first week as he had a lot of surgical interventions. He was put to sleep and sedated as he was confused and not lucid. His oxygen levels dropped, and we had to put him on a ventilator for 10 days. Now he is stable.”
Mr Hingst can move his feet, but is unable to stand or walk.
“It will take time, but Nihal is a fighter and has the will to move again,” said Dr Andary.
“He is progressing very fast and will walk again, but he will not leave hospital for at least two weeks.”
Insurance companies must follow certain criteria and regulations before agreeing to pay out on a policy.
Basic health insurance policies may be more affordable for companies, which must provide them by law, but they rarely provide comprehensive health cover.
“This could be one of the largest claims I have seen under these circumstances,” said Stephen Maclaren, a director at Seven Insurance Brokers in Dubai.
“Companies want to get the price of health insurance for employees down to what is affordable and manageable, particularly in difficult times.
“Anything can be insured, but it costs money. This is an example of keeping costs down for employers, and most insurers will have this [motorcycle] exclusion under a basic health policy.”
Mr Maclaren said that employees often do not know what their insurance covers or they do not want to pay extra for additional coverage.
“If there is no one else involved in the accident, there will be a gap in the cover. People think it will never happen to them until it is too late,” he said.
Many hospitals allow members of the public to help families in need with payment. Burjeel's can be contacted on 06 5075071.
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Pushkin Press
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Time; race; prize; distance
4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)
4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed
5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
