Australian Woman in Critical Condition After Surgery in Vietnam

A woman from Australia is in a dire situation in Vietnam following a cosmetic surgery gone wrong.

Chloe Mowday, 31, traveled to the popular destination with her husband Josh and their youngest son, Elijah, with plans also to visit Disneyland in Hong Kong and Universal Studios in Singapore.

While in Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, Chloe was set to have rhinoplasty (a procedure to reshape the nose) and blepharoplasty (for eyelid enhancement), both of which are generally deemed safe.

Tragically, the day after her surgery, Chloe experienced severe complications and was quickly taken to a nearby hospital.

Her brother Rod detailed the alarming events during an interview. “She spent the night at a clinic in Da Nang, but by morning, everything changed,” he explained.

“A few hours later, her condition took a turn for the worse. She felt discomfort and pain outside the operated area, took some prescribed medication, and tried to rest. But when Josh checked on her, she was unresponsive. Then, she stopped breathing, and it seemed like her organs began to fail.”

Rod suspects Chloe could be suffering from toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which is linked to bacterial infections, though this is not confirmed yet.

Chloe is undergoing tests to identify the issue, and authorities are looking into the case.

“She’s on dialysis, needs blood transfusions, and is on various medications just to stabilize her blood pressure,” Rod shared. “It’s alarming; her blood pressure has dropped so low that her extremities have turned black.”

After receiving a call from his brother-in-law, Rod and his teenage daughter boarded a flight to Vietnam immediately.

“I was absolutely devastated when I heard,” he recounted. “I just had to be there.”

Seeing Chloe in the ICU was gut-wrenching for Rod, who could only visit her for 15 minutes each day during his stay.

“What I saw was heartbreaking. She was unconscious, and there were tubes everywhere,” he reflected.

Upon returning to Perth, Rod spoke of how the doctors were doing their best, but despite their efforts—like trying to wake her from the coma—Chloe couldn’t hold on without going back into a medically induced state.

“As of Thursday night, her eyes opened, but she remains unresponsive and is still reliant on life support,” Rod said, sharing concerns about possible complications due to hospitalization instructions from Vietnamese doctors.

“We felt it was best to take her home,” he mentioned, adding that the family is hopeful she’ll be cleared to travel soon.

While they’re proud and hesitant to ask for help, mounting medical expenses—like a $228,000 Medivac flight—have forced them to consider starting a GoFundMe campaign. So far, they’ve raised over $15,000, with generous contributions from supporters like a man named Brian Fisher, who donated $2,000.

“I’m really thankful for everyone’s support. People can be incredibly kind,” Rod expressed gratefully.

The family is also in touch with the Australian embassy for assistance in getting Chloe back to Perth.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is reportedly providing consular aid, including liaising with local hospitals and authorities, and supporting the family’s communication efforts.

Rod described Chloe as a “loving soul” and mentioned her three young children and devoted husband, who has been there with her. “Doctors believe she has a better chance at recovering back home, so we’re working diligently to arrange that air ambulance,” he added.

In light of the troubling situation, the hospital has filed a police report, which is one reason the specific clinic has not been named publicly.