Justaword

Only one of the men would have had to have handed in their passport to the hotel when staying in one room.

I disagree. I just returned from Phuket 2 weeks ago. Everywhere we stayed on the island, each and every hotel demanded my passport as well as my g/f's passport or Thai ID as well. They never asked for my son's ID. This seems to be a Phuket thing and possibly other islands in the area as well. Makes sense to me.

For foreigners, they only ask one passport per room. Only if your partner is Thai, or asian looking by the way, they will ask for her id/passport. Something to do with illegal immigrants/underage girls/robbing hookkers etc etc....

Does the fact that this has happened in Phuket in a week with another Australian being murdered cause people to be sensitive about such issues? I'd say definitely.

Fully agreed (again). Events happened on the 8th, and at the time everybody accepted the accident as a motorbike accident. It started to make the headlines we are seeing now only on the 20th, but a few hours BEFORE the stabbing, so no conspiracy theories here, please.

But yes, media exposure has boosted the funds collection effort, and this will help him to recover better, and it's what we all wish to him.

We don't know what he hit, how he hit it and what shape it was, we don't know anything at all actually other than the hospital he originally went to (most likely Vachira from the look of the hospital bed) say it's an RTA and he doesn't.

Exactly. He is quoted saying “I know I can’t have crashed. I know the roads very well", but admits not remember anything except that he was going to stop for gasoline. Unless somebody has already made his mind on what really happened, I don't see any point taking this logic as a truth.

Jumping on the conclusion that he has been attacked is based on the fact that, YES, there is an history of aggression's in the area. But there are also a bunch of deadly motorbike accidents here.

And the injuries he sustained can fit both scenarios.

By The way, there was a previous thread on this on TV :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/564260-local-police-are-treating-mr-ketley-as-a-motorbike-crash/

It did link to an external sources which has far more details on the events:

http://www.thephuketnews.com/aussie-beaten-left-for-dead-say-family-31469.php

Hospital, location, insurance issues, it's all there.....

Edit: removed post, useless to speculate...

officials at the meeting would find out what really happened to the radar system

I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

maybe they ask where the UPS batteries went.....

On the tsunami alert buoys maybe ?

I have 1719 in my telephone, the alarm number from Bangkok Phuket Hospital. I also have insurance, so I don't have to worry about unpaid bills.

1719, yes, it's both the emergency number of Bangkok Phuket and the number painted on Chalong based ambulances. Just a note: if you really don't want to worry, carry your insurance details with you. In my case I was insured, but as I was still half unconscious when they took me to Bangkok Phuket and unable to show the honey, they sent me straight to Vachira. It's only there than I totally woke up, called friends and asked to be transferred back. For the record, only the doctor at Vachira insisted on an head scan to be sure that there was no internal bleeding after the shock, and that I was safe to go. But this is going off topic....

This is worthy of a crime story, sort of MISS MARPLE and INSPECTOR BARNABY. Two elderly sisters suddenly feeling young again, go on a night club spree with a strange Portuguese. We do not know about any serious life problems that should have caused the sisters to commit suicide. 60-year old women do not normally take benzo drink mixes that would make them pass out, do they?

Before to make assumptions, or even posting, you really should try to get (at least) the facts right.

What facts....this whole thread is full of assumptions and speculation....why not add this one as well...the young ladies were cunningly disgused as a 60 year old woman...

Fair point, I retract my comment.....

This is worthy of a crime story, sort of MISS MARPLE and INSPECTOR BARNABY. Two elderly sisters suddenly feeling young again, go on a night club spree with a strange Portuguese. We do not know about any serious life problems that should have caused the sisters to commit suicide. 60-year old women do not normally take benzo drink mixes that would make them pass out, do they?

Before to make assumptions, or even posting, you really should try to get (at least) the facts right.

A power source like a 'UPS' is usually 'in-line' with the computer or equipment that it is supplying, with large batteries doing the back-up for a limited time. Audible sounds are given from the UPS equipment giving advance notice of a problem or battery failure - do the operatives have ears?

UPS batteries wear off and need to be replaced once in a while, otherwise the whole system just fails when the main power goes down.....

What usually happens in Phuket, is that unconscious foreigner are brought to one of the two private hospitals where staff can speak english.

Depends on which ambulance is there first. If the Vachira is first the victim is taken there, irrespective of if it is a foreigner or Thai. I would guess that about 50% of foreigners is first taken to Vachira, the others to International and Bangkok Phuket. Also Mission Hospital is private BTW, so there are 3 private hospitals on the island.

That's correct. But I am not sure Mission deals much with foreigners, as last time I went there I couldn't find anybody speaking english. It has been renovated recently, so it may "compete" now with the two others..

True also that that it depends who arrives on the scene first. If it's a Rescue Association team called by a local, they may take you directly to Vachira, if it's one of the tourist emergency vans parked in Chalong, only a few minutes away from the "accident" scene, they will take you to Phuket International or Bangkok Phuket. But people can also call directly one of the short numbers of a specific hospital, which will then send his own ambulance.his people may or may

Anyway, It's not really relevant, was just pointing out that in a situation like this people may or may not have the choice of the hospital they will be treated at first...

what I also see is that he may have put up his right arm to defend himself from a swinging club or the like, breaking his arm, the stitches i see are also on the right side of his head

Very good observation, indeed.

I would imagine he was at a state run first and then moved shortly thereafter when the family got a chance to speak to Daniel and found out that he thought something was amiss. It seems they turned their suspicion on the hospital too at that time.

Not trusting a hospital is quite strange. I know corruption is rife, but it's one of the few instiutions that I'd like to believe aren't as bad as all the others.

What usually happens in Phuket, is that unconscious foreigner are brought to one of the two private hospitals where staff can speak english. Believe it or not, unless you are on the death row, they will keep you only if they are assured that you, or your insurance, can pay. If not, they will send you to a public hospital, usually Vachira as it's well equipped.

The picture of the victim on his hospital bed has clearly been taken in a public one.

As I understand from the articles and the Facebook page, the victim has been already discharged, and the family is now collecting funds for facial reconstruction in the reputable (and extremely expensive) Bangkok Phuket Hospital.

If the truth be told, it's not anybodies business if he had travel insurance or not. That's not what this news article is all about. But I guess it's good for the count!

There are two news articles in this thread, one mentioning the Facebook raising funds page, denoting that there is probably an insurance issue. So, no, it's not off topic at all, and discussing about it may increase people awareness about coverage issues.

No way he been in a bike crash ...

A while ago, I had a motorbike crash without helmet and my face looked exactly like this. Same for a friend of mine who looked like she had been punched in the face big time.

In my case, no bones broken, but still no clue what happened, just remember driving and woke up in hospital. Bike had only minor damage in the front, and the rest of my body was intact except a few scratches on my feet.

I mean, by the picture and the details given, it's impossible to rule out a motorbike accident. True that the life and activities of the victim here in LOS make him a possible target, and if his parents are convinced of foul play they probably have some information's undisclosed in the press release.

About insurance, a lot of people are unaware that travel coverage is not valid anymore after three months abroad. Plus, many exclude motorbike accidents in places like Thailand due to the high risk. I pay an "extra" to my expat health premium to be covered for this kind of situations.

Also, not many people know that the minimal mandatory insurance for motorbikes here does include coverage between 35 and 100k for personal injury, depending of the company you subscribe to. In one occasion I got reimbursed of 14k just showing the (paid) invoice from the hospital, the police report and a letter from the doctor.

About the ibuprophen - I just don't get it. Why can I walk into any Canadian drug store and buy a bottle of 120 caplets without a prescription, off the shelves, but in Thailand, I have to do the whole song and dance just to get 10 tabs...

I had to show my passport in Singapore to buy ibuprofen as without prescription you are only allowed to 10x200mg per week there. Dunno were you go shopping in Thailand, but i never had any problems buying 400/800mg tablets in any amount. Over dosage can be nasty for your stomach, yes, but nothing threatening. But a lot more issues as raised when combined with other drugs or anti-coagulants, hence the restrictions in some countries...

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My guess is the cause of death will be indeterminable.

That is rarely the case in most places.

Agreed. And a lot of Thais are far from incompetent, despite what some people can think. It's delivering the truth which is more problematic.

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How many dentists do you know get pissed up, and at that young female ones?

Sorry to ask, but on wich planet are you living on ?

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With the latest details released, almost certainly rat poison.

It's true that the only powerful anti-coagulants easily avalaible on the market is "professional" liquid concentrated rat poison. And, even in western countries there is a high rate of domestic accidents related to toxic substances stored in un-labelled containers. But, as much as it's a valid one, it's still only a speculation. The positive thing in the last "official" announcement is that id doesn't exclude a chemical agent. And that the family has now more control on what will happen next.

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There are many pubs that serves a popular cocktail which is made from mushrooms. A tourist said that there were special mushrooms on the menu on Pangan island and Samui island and and also on Phi Phi island. Local name is “Khee Kwai ” or magic mushroom, which is popular among tourists. When consumed, this kind of mushroom will cause heavy intoxication.

http://www.pattayada...room-suspected/

from what i have read about them, i would find it very unlikely that they might have ordered such a thing...

Unlikely, but not impossible. In years spent dealing with young tourists in Thai islands, I can assure you that there is a high percentage of good kids willing to "try" by curiosity. Said that, it's not rare that the wrong order lands on the wrong table, TIT....

The Doctor who arrived on scene from the hospital has given an interview and actually said

For the first time, Dr Duangporn Paothong of Phi Phi Hospital talked publicly about what she found when she was called to the room at the Palms Residence Phi Phi immediately after a maid discovered the bodies on Friday.

Dr Duangporn said that she had ''never seen a case like it.''

''Both bodies had the same characteristics,'' she said. ''There was a lot of vomit in a wastepaper basket.

''There was blood under their skin, under their tongues and under their eyes. Their fingernails had turned green or purple.

''As for the cause of death, it's impossible to know at this stage,'' she said. ''There just isn't enough information

So, no 'vomit all over the room', but lots of vomit in a wastepaper basket.

No bleeding gums, but blood under the tongue, skin and eyes,

Fingernails, green or purple, not blue.

So yes, there is a lot more to read.

Now, maybe there was a nose bleed. I don't know. I haven't seen the pictures and I haven't seen the report.

Everybody tried to jump on conclusions after reading "bleeding gums". Maybe the observations of the local doctor quoted above are more accurate and present the whole story on a different angle...

I totally agree, it is absolute BS. Pictures of "rescue vehicles" that don't even exist, scenes of bodies being dragged in bags, local paramedics that look dressed like roadside scavengers pillaging for valuables, disgusting. Cut and paste tabloid journalism at it's worst. A classic example of " never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

English tabloid at his best. Original press release mixed wit raw assumptions in a way to make them sound legit. Original pictures from Thai Channel 7, mixed with a "picture of the hotel", which in in fact the totally unrelated Phi Phi hotel not long after tsunami. Inaccurate map. Shame....

but the peanuts in the dishes here are very visible...

they are put into the bowl as they are...

Really ? find them in a Satay sauce then. Good luck.

Plus, in local restaurants it's extremely common to re-use the same oil to fry different things.

How on hearth would you find out that your fish cakes haven't been fried in the same oil than the peanuts for the som tam of the previous customer ?

No way.

You are correct. People just do not realize how deadly something like a peanut allergy can be. I didn't until being around daughter's friend who has the allergy. Very scarey.

For somebody who has a known peanut allergy, and who usually checks extremely carefully the composition of his meals, coming to Thailand would a pure suicide.

Peanuts are incorporated in many dishes and sauces, and there is NO WAY you can trust a waiter here

1) to undersdand your question in detail

2) to tell you the truth about what's exactly in the dish, simply because he has no clue but won't admit it.

I really doubt somebody with a peanut allergy and a working brain would come here for vacations....

Pretty sure that aircon units recirculate the air in the room and not pull air from outside. I could be wrong on that.

All the wall units I have seen in Thailand rooms, yes. The compressor is separated from the fan unit. Mono-bloc, mobile A/C are rare, and all the block is indoors. I have seen in other countries, or industrial installations, small units which pump from outside.