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An English cricket fan, who is travelling from Manchester to Australia to watch the Ashes without catching a plane, has opened up on the moment he suffered a ‘broken nose and a fractured skull’ following a motorbike accident.
Tommy Lamb, 18, is planning to arrive in Adelaide to watch the third Ashes Test on December 16.
But his journey was briefly put on pause after he came off his bike while travelling around Cat Ba Island in Vietnam.
Thankfully, after a brief stay in hospital, the cricket fan has recovered well and has been able to continue the incredible journey that will see him visit over 24 different countries.
The England fan has been documenting the trip on social media, sharing stories of how he played cricket with locals in rural Albania, slept in a cave in Vietnam and also showcased his time exploring Chongqing in China, one of the world's largest cities.
As part of his journey, the 18-year-old is hoping to play cricket with as many people he can along his route, in the hope that he can get more people engaged with the sport.
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
An England cricket fan is attempting to make the 4000km journey from Manchester to Australia for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide without a plane
Tommy Lamb has made his way through Europe and across Asia, but suffered a serious motorbike injury while in Vietnam. But thankfully, after a few days in hospital the 18-year-old is recovering well and is now continuing the journey
But last week, Lamb took to Instagram to explain that he had been forced to put a brief pause on his trip, posting a video on Instagram from his hospital bed. He stated that he had rented a motorbike for a day to explore Cat Ba Island but had been involved in a crash.
‘I don’t remember anything about the incident and couldn’t find out anything from the locals about it,’ he wrote in the caption.
‘Ended up with some fairly serious injuries, but thankfully it wasn’t anything worse than it was and so the trip can continue with some delay.’
While the 18-year-old added that he had thankfully avoided any brain injuries, he revealed the extent of his injuries during a video published on his Instagram, stating: ‘My nose is broken, my skull is fractured and my eye is bruised.
‘I have about 10 cuts. Both my lips are busted on the inside and outside. My tooth is chipped and I have about 10 open wounds.’
The cricket fan explained that he had spent four nights in hospital and said he was feeling much better following the crash.
‘Very grateful for all the locals that helped me out one way or another and for all of the well-wishing messages I’ve received,’ he said.
Lamb has been looking to play cricket with as many people as possible during his inspiring journey, with the 18-year-old now set to travel to southern Vietnam, where he'll make his way down through to Malaysia and Bali. He intends to catch a boat from the Indonesian island to Australia
Despite the injuries and incident putting a brief delay on his journey, Lamb is keeping a positive attitude and has quickly got back on the road.
He is currently travelling by bus from Haiphong to Ho Chi Minh and intends to cross the border into Cambodia and Thailand before heading south past Bangkok, down to Malaysia and Singapore, before heading to Bali.
One of the biggest issues he’ll face in the coming weeks will be how to travel by boat from Bali to Australia.
Lamb revealed that he has a variety of options available but has asked his followers if anyone had any advice on finding transport to cross the ocean to get in touch.
The cricket fan said that the idea to travel to Australia without a plane was sparked after his dad told him about how the founders of the travel guide book Lonely Planet, Maureen and Tony Wheeler, travelled from the UK to Australia in a minivan, before they wrote their first book.
Speaking on what it will feel like to eventually reach Australia, Lamb told Luxury Travel Daly: ‘It would be an immensely proud moment.
‘I’ve always dreamt of watching England play an Ashes series down under, and to get there in this way would no doubt be the proudest achievement of my life.
‘The aim was to prove that people everywhere are helpful and kind and that things always work out one way or another.
‘If I complete this trip, I’ll have proved that to myself more than anyone.’
You can keep up with Lamb’s journey by following his handle on Instagram: @cheese_nan_on_tour
