Waterslide accident leaves Regina man in Philippine hospital

It was a dream vacation.

Chris and Joefe Lucmayon had been saving up for a trip back home to the Philippines, working at Kuya Wayne's Sari Sari Store in Regina.

The store had just reached its second-year anniversary and to celebrate the milestone the couple decided to take a vacation to a seaside resort in Cebu, Philippines.

"They were so very excited to go home and all the days in the Philippines was planned ahead," said Lynne Mae Ast, Joefe's sister.

While at the resort visiting family, Chris decided to take a ride down the resort's waterslide. As he was gliding down the 45-metre slide, it took a sharp turn. Chris slipped off the slide and fell down to the ground below. 

"He dropped and it was like a three-storey building and when he fell, he hit his head," said Ast.

He fractured his back, sustained brain trauma, and had a lung collapse. 

For over a month, Chris has been in and out of surgery in the Philippines. 

"They just went for an operation and they opened the skull to get out the blood clots in there," said Ast. "Right now, he's doing some therapy to recover."

The couple didn't purchase medical insurance and the bills have soared to roughly $50,000.

Ast is trying to raise money to help her brother-in-law recover and return back to Regina.

All sales from the Kuya Wayne's Sari Sari Store on Sunday, June 26 will be donated to the Lucmayons.

There are also donation boxes in the store dedicated to helping Chris's medical costs.