A Russian tourist who fell into a coma in Bali under suspected methanol poisoning has been medically evacuated back to his home country after weeks of uncertainty and mounting medical bills exceeding $128,000.
The Mysterious Collapse
Andrei Borodin was rushed to Bali's BIMC private hospital on October 18 displaying alarming symptoms that doctors initially identified as potential methanol poisoning. The Russian tourist suffered from photophobia - an extreme sensitivity to light - along with blurred vision and significant memory loss. "He didn't know who he was," according to his girlfriend, Victoria Argapova, who has maintained a constant vigil at his bedside.
The situation deteriorated rapidly when Borodin fell into a coma the following day, remaining unconscious and connected to approximately twenty medical machines. Despite the initial diagnosis, subsequent methanol tests returned negative results, leaving medical professionals and his loved ones searching for answers.
Mounting Costs and Medical Uncertainty
The financial burden of Borodin's medical care has reached staggering proportions. As of November 17, the hospital had billed the family 1.4 billion Indonesian rupiah ($128,000). This amount doesn't include additional expenses such as flying a specialist doctor from Russia to assist with diagnosis.
Victoria Argapova has endured immense stress throughout the ordeal, spending her days and nights on a yoga mat in Borodin's hospital room. "Am I OK? When Andrei is OK, I will be OK," she told reporters, showing visible signs of exhaustion with dark circles under her eyes and pale complexion.
Medical professionals have ruled out infection and pre-existing health conditions, yet the mystery surrounding Borodin's condition persists. "The doctors here still believe it's methanol poisoning," Victoria noted. "But in my opinion, that's only because they have to come up with something."
Risky Evacuation and Faint Hope
Borodin has shown minor signs of improvement, with slight reactions detected in his fingers and toes. However, his condition remains critical with one lung collapsing twice due to complications from the artificial respirator keeping him alive.
The deteriorating lung function prompted the difficult decision to evacuate Borodin to Moscow, where hospitals possess advanced testing technology unavailable in Indonesia. The evacuation presented additional challenges as Russia has no available private medical jets due to military requisitioning for the conflict in Ukraine.
Borodin will be transported commercially in a specially configured cabin at the rear of a passenger aircraft - a risky undertaking given his fragile condition. "He's a fighter, a real fighter," Victoria declared. "That's what's keeping him alive."
The case highlights the ongoing danger of homemade arak in Indonesia, an indigenous spirit produced outside regulatory oversight. According to the Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies, unregulated spirits claim more than 120 lives annually across the archipelago nation.
