The August 11, 2017 was a very tragic and fateful day for Basti. The Argentinian groom, employed by the Legacy Polo Club, fell off a horse and suffered major injuries to his fifth cervical vertebra.

Nothing is the same anymore

He was immediately flown to Zurich University Hospital by helicopter and operated on the same evening. One week later Basti was transferred to the Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil. His diagnosis: quadriplegia, i.e. a paraplegia involving all four limbs (both arms and legs).

A very long and intensive rehabilitation awaits him. During the short time that Basti worked for us, we got to know him as an incredibly nice, very humble, cheerful and always helpful man. To many of us he became a very good friend and to others an appreciated, reliable and competent employee. His tragic accident hits us all. Basti's young life has taken a hard turn and nothing will ever be like it was before.

Basti has accepted his fate in an admirable way and is now focusing on his best possible recovery. Our aim is to help him use his strength in the most ideal way and to stop him from worrying about finances for now. This is a very ambitious goal and it requires as much support as possible support from all sides.

The accident insurance (UV) entitles Basti to certain benefits:

• Daily allowance: Payment of up to 80% of his groom's wage. This will later be changed into a lifetime pension, the amount depending on the degree of his disability and the chances of reintegration into working life.
• Helplessness allowance: Serves to cover the costs of an assistant who helps him to get up, eat, wash or even to purchase materials that aren't covered by the insurance. The amount of this fixed payment depends on the patient's level of independence in in his day to day life, i.e. it isn't an amount of choice. Experience has shown that this allowance often only just covers the incurring assistance costs.
• Personal injury indemnity: A one-off payment. The amount depends on the degree of disability (maximum sum: CHF 148'000.-).

Once he leaves Nottwil, all direct medical costs for Basti's continued care will still be covered by the insurance. He therefore won't have to worry about catheters, therapies, further operations related to his accident, emergencies that may occur due to his disability, etc.

However, all other subsequent costs won't be covered by any insurance and Basti will have to pay for them himself:

• retraining for reintegration into working life
• adaption of the house installation to his needs
• special bed
• handicap-accessible vehicle or a vehicle to transport him
• products to facilitate everyday life
• a second wheelchair (e.g. for sports)

Usually several hundert thousand francs are needed to make ends meet. A large part of these purchases and adjustments would normally be covered by the Swiss disability insurance (IV). However, due to Basti's short length of stay in Switzerland, they will not be covered in his case.

As Basti will in no way be able to live on the accident insurance pension alone, we, the Legacy Polo Club, immediately started to raise funds. The money collected has been transferred into a sub-account (entitled to Basti) of the Rütli Foundation. The withdrawal options are clearly regulated. The money can only be used for Basti's livelihood and rehabilitation measures.

Every sum donated, large or small, is invaluable for Basti. Please support us in helping this young, polo-enthusiastic man, to tackle his challenging future. He will be dependent on additional financial support from third parties for the rest of his life.

Thank you very much!

Contact
Ann-Kristin Sandmann
aks@lm.ag

Payments from Switzerland in CHF

Beneficiary Bank
Reichmuth & Co, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7
Bank Clearing Number: 08761
SWIFT/BIC: REIC CH 22
Beneficiary Account (IBAN): CH43 0876 1131 9200 1200 1
Beneficiary: Rütli-Stiftung Basti Fund, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7
Rütli-Stiftung Basti Fund contributions are tax-deductible in Switzerland

 

Payments from Abroad in EUR

Beneficiary Bank
Reichmuth & Co, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7
SWIFT/BIC: REIC CH 22
Beneficiary Account (IBAN): CH16 0876 1131 9200 1200 2
Beneficiary: Rütli-Stiftung Basti Fund, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7

Intermediary Bank
Bank: Luzerner Kantonalbank, CH-6002 Lucerne
SWIFT: LUKB CH 22 60A
Account (IBAN): CH12 0077 8018 8502 3110 4

Correspondent Bank
Bank: Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, Frankfurt am Main
SWIFT: HELA DE FF

 

Payments from Abroad in USD

Beneficiary Bank
Reichmuth & Co, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7
SWIFT/BIC: REIC CH 22
Beneficiary Account (IBAN): CH86 0876 1131 9200 1200 3
Beneficiary: Rütli-Stiftung Basti Fund, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7

Intermediary Bank
Bank: Luzerner Kantonalbank, CH-6002 Lucerne
SWIFT: LUKB CH 22 60A
Account (IBAN): CH71 0077 8018 8503 3810 0

Correspondent Bank
Bank: Wells Fargo Bank NA, New York
SWIFT: PNBP US 3N NYC

 

Payments from Abroad in GBP

Beneficiary Bank
Reichmuth & Co, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7
SWIFT/BIC: REIC CH 22
Beneficiary Account (IBAN): CH59 0876 1131 9200 1200 4
Beneficiary: Rütli-Stiftung Basti Fund, Rütligasse 1, CH-6000 Lucerne 7

Intermediary Bank
Bank: Luzerner Kantonalbank, CH-6002 Lucerne
SWIFT: LUKB CH 22 60A
Account (IBAN): CH38 0077 8018 8503 3820 9

Correspondent Bank
Bank: Deutsche Bank AG, London
SWIFT: DEUT GB 2L

 

Contact

Ann-Kristin Sandmann
aks@lm.ag