An Australian CEO remains in hospital after suffering serious injuries from an attack on the side of the road in the US, with the boss’ family left unbeknown to his whereabouts for four days.
Colin Bettles, former media adviser to former deputy PM Michael McCormack turned Grain Producers Australia (GPA) chief executive, was on July 4 walking back to his San Francisco hotel during a solo work trip when he was viciously set upon.
The 54-year-old, who had arrived in the city merely hours prior, was left unconscious with a fractured eye socket, severe head injuries and his phone and wallet stolen.
After a bystander alerted emergency services, he was transported to San Francisco General and Trauma Hospital and placed into an induced coma in an ICU ward.
But doctors could not identify him without any ID and his loved ones were therefore unidentifiable and uncontactable.
The ex-journalist’s partner Sue Acton only raised the alarm when she realised he had failed to board a scheduled flight to New York.
Working in regional Australia with limited phone reception, Ms Acton called Mr Bettles’ friend of 15 years Mr McCormack for assistance.
Mr McCormack said she was in a “rather calm state” on the phone but concerns began to set in after she contacted hotel staff who told her Mr Bettles had not arrived back to his room.
“They had told her that his luggage had been left in his room unopened. His bed hadn’t been turned back. The shower hadn’t been used, and the towels were left unused,” Mr McCormack told NewsWire.
“I find it extraordinary that a hotel with a person who was due to check out on the following morning, early to catch a flight to New York, that they just put the luggage in storage and leave it at that.
“Quite frankly, I thought it was extraordinary behaviour.
“The worst-case scenario was that he was in a morgue with a tag with John Doe written on it…or that we never find him again.”
In a state of panic, he on Monday called the Department of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Penny Wong to help track down Mr Bettles because if it could “bring Julian Assange home” then it must “jolly well bring Col Bettles home”.
He was relieved on Monday when Ms Acton told him Mr Bettles was alive “thanks to consular officials going hospital to hospital, ward to ward”.
US authorities had tracked Mr Bettles down to his hospital bed where he was in intensive care for five days.
A GPA spokesperson said the company board was “supporting his family and authorities” while their CEO “is currently in hospital receiving care”.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the Department was “providing consular assistance to an Australian who was reported missing in the United States”.
It remains unclear when Mr Bettles will be discharged from hospital to return home.