Brit Undergoes Brain Surgery After Songkran Stroke

5 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Michael is also facing medical bills of around GBP16,000 after his insurer reportedly asked him to first settle costs directly with the hospital while they review his medical records, before any decision on paying his claim.

Surely everyone was waiting for this part. Here I quoted it for you

2 minutes ago, GenX said:

Surely everyone was waiting for this part. Here I quoted it for you

And the expected gofundme !

18 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

And the expected gofundme !

Claim has yet to be denied or approved, but the alcohol the night before may affect that.

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Claim has yet to be denied or approved, but the alcohol the night before may affect that.

If that doesn't work there will be a pre existing condition that insurance company is already looking into.

10 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Claim has yet to be denied or approved, but the alcohol the night before may affect that.

alcohol doesn't cause a stroke so this one the insurer should pay, diagnosis was mixed up to begin with so i can see why the insurance co are checking

Or maybe his insurance company don't have a "direct billing" agreement with the hospital.

The guy was lucky that the doctors finally figured out what was wrong.

2 hours ago, GenX said:

Surely everyone was waiting for this part. Here I quoted it for you

Thank you... I was waiting with bated breath for this news. I can now sleep easier at night. [He should pay the $16k - and wait his Insurance to cover it, but only if he has 'disclosed' everything on his Insurance Application]. Afterall - it is only around 700,000 thb FFS.

What happens if his Insurance comes to the party and pays all his medicals costs? Is he going to track every GFM donation and refund it back to people? Of course not! The UK grub... and for the record, I donated NOTHING for this pathetic non-man who can not handle or take care of his own life.... PATHETIC excuse for a MAN! Grow a pair, and stop acting like a little child that needs a blanket from others covering him.

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

And the expected gofundme !

Yep! The GoFundMe that I did not contribute to. Insurance company has not denied his claim.. they are investigating it. No need for a GoFundMe... He is a MAN isn't he? Let him look after himself... and stop being a little pussy.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

alcohol doesn't cause a stroke so this one the insurer should pay, diagnosis was mixed up to begin with so i can see why the insurance co are checking

It is called 'Non-Disclosure'. When applying for Insurance you need to be 100% accurate in what you divulge about your past health conditions.

Insurance companies base their 'premiums' on the 'risk' of future treatment for illnesses. IF this guy was hiding information on his original Application that could have increased the risk for claims in the future, (and the Insurance premium was not adjusted) the Insurance company is well within their right to 'refuse' a claim based on previous health conditions not disclosed.

36 seems way too young to have a stroke.

why was he screaming in pain for 3 days? why did he wait so long to go back to the hospital?

That’s why I self insure. Insurance companies here look first to not pay it out!

Michael is also facing medical bills of around GBP16,000 after his insurer reportedly asked him to first settle costs directly with the hospital while they review his medical records, before any decision on paying his claim. ==> I don't like this you pay first and then we make a decision. How about review and make a decision? If Michael had a precondition he most probably would have known and advised the doctor when he first went into the emergency. My overview of the situation: Patients need to be treated, hospitals need to be paid, insurers need to review for pre-existing conditions (not a charity) ... all point to the deficiencies of private medical coverage. All add stress to an already stressful situation.

3 minutes ago, Brettoj said:

That’s why I self insure. Insurance companies here look first to not pay it out!

Article mentions school teacher so I assume (maybe wrongly) he is a teacher here.

Why does SSO not cover him ?

34 minutes ago, damo1967 said:

It is called 'Non-Disclosure'. When applying for Insurance you need to be 100% accurate in what you divulge about your past health conditions.

Insurance companies base their 'premiums' on the 'risk' of future treatment for illnesses. IF this guy was hiding information on his original Application that could have increased the risk for claims in the future, (and the Insurance premium was not adjusted) the Insurance company is well within their right to 'refuse' a claim based on previous health conditions not disclosed.

Does travel insurance usually cover strokes if he didn't have any related health issues? he was only in his 30s. As a Brit he would use the NHS they don't usually pick up things in advance, they usually wait for symptoms

3 hours ago, GenX said:

If that doesn't work there will be a pre existing condition that insurance company is already looking into.

Unless he had an existing diagnosed circulatory system disease it is unlikely that the stroke could be excluded as a pre-existing condition. Heart attacks and strokes are two of the common insured incidents.

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

alcohol doesn't cause a stroke so this one the insurer should pay, diagnosis was mixed up to begin with so i can see why the insurance co are checking

Which insurance? If working legally as a teacher, he probably was on social, therefor government hospital. The operation was done at a private hospital.
If working illegally, he may have had travel insurance or some other form of health insurance, he may even have had the latter while working legally. But without details, nobody can tell whether his insurance was valid for the procedure.

21 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

Michael is also facing medical bills of around GBP16,000 after his insurer reportedly asked him to first settle costs directly with the hospital while they review his medical records, before any decision on paying his claim. ==> I don't like this you pay first and then we make a decision. How about review and make a decision? If Michael had a precondition he most probably would have known and advised the doctor when he first went into the emergency. My overview of the situation: Patients need to be treated, hospitals need to be paid, insurers need to review for pre-existing conditions (not a charity) ... all point to the deficiencies of private medical coverage. All add stress to an already stressful situation.

Travel insurance is structured as a reimbursement format. Despite the policy wording typically requiring contact before a procedure, it is often impossible to do so, particularly in emergency situations. It takes time to submit, and allow a review of a claim. The claimants often do not provide supporting or complete information. The medical services provider do not provide complete information and hospitals can over charge. Often it comes as a copy of an invoice only.

34 minutes ago, Brettoj said:

That’s why I self insure. Insurance companies here look first to not pay it out!

This comment means you don't understand the principle behind insurance.

Seems very cheap for the surgery and treatment at a private hospital 🤯

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A British teacher living in Thailand required emergency brain surgery after local doctors initially dismissed his severe symptoms as a hangover following Songkran celebrations in Chiang Mai. Michael Batten, 36, woke on April 14 vomiting, in pain and feeling “extremely dizzy” before later being diagnosed with an ischemic stroke and dangerous swelling on his brain.

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Michael, originally from Lightwater, Surrey, said he believed he was suffering his first migraine after celebrating the Thai new year. After struggling to breathe, he attended a local hospital in Chiang Mai, where doctors reportedly suggested he was hungover and sent him home with paracetamol and ibuprofen.

He said: “They kind of downplayed it - ‘you’d had a few drinks’. But I didn’t even drink that much, I was home by 10pm.” Michael returned home but spent the next three days “screaming in pain” before seeking treatment at the private Chiangmai Ram Hospital. Following a CT scan, a nurse informed him he had a brain tumour before doctors ordered an MRI scan to determine whether it was benign or cancerous.

Doctors later told him he did not have a tumour, but had suffered an ischemic stroke and had a 4.5cm shadow at the back of his brain. Michael said the diagnosis was particularly traumatic for his family after his father died unexpectedly from a stroke in 2020.

Picture courtesy of Daily Mirror

He was rushed into surgery for a craniotomy, a procedure involving the removal of part of the skull, after doctors discovered dangerous swelling in his brain. Michael recalled doctors telling him that part of his brain “fell out to breathe” once the skull section was removed.

When he regained consciousness, Michael could not recognise anyone around him and was initially unable to speak. Although he has since regained the ability to communicate and walk, he has been left with brain damage affecting his motor skills, co-ordination and sense of direction.

The complications may prevent him from returning to activities including seven-a-side football and coaching basketball at his school. With part of his skull still missing, he said doctors warned that any blow to his head could be fatal.

Michael is also facing medical bills of around GBP16,000 after his insurer reportedly asked him to first settle costs directly with the hospital while they review his medical records, before any decision on paying his claim. He claims the hospital is withholding his passport because of the unpaid bill, leaving uncertainty over whether he can travel to visit his mother in the UK later this year.

The Daily Mirror reported that A GoFundMe page organised by a friend has raised more than GBP10,000 towards his recovery and treatment costs. Michael said he hoped his experience would encourage others living abroad to review their insurance coverage and seek support when needed.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 15 May 2026

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When I started reading I got immediately the feeling, it's not only about the fate of this British man, but about to start the obligated #gofundme action.

Is that necessary? He got an insurance, and a credit card as a teacher to pay by himself. For me it turns out as begging just to save your own wallet. He's not poor nor homeless.

It was possibly heat stroke, I used to be a plumber and I remember working on a roof and the temperature was 40C + After work I became dizzy and appeared to be heavily intoxicated I couldn't walk straight or even drive my car. So I laid down in the shade and drank as much water as I could and I slowly recovered. UK people like many Europeans aren't used to the heat or humidity that we get in Thailand. Always wear a hat if you're in the sun for prolonged periods.

5 minutes ago, Rams86 said:

It was possibly heat stroke, I used to be a plumber and I remember working on a roof and the temperature was 40C + After work I became dizzy and appeared to be heavily intoxicated I couldn't walk straight or even drive my car. So I laid down in the shade and drank as much water as I could and I slowly recovered. UK people like many Europeans aren't used to the heat or humidity that we get in Thailand. Always wear a hat if you're in the sun for prolonged periods.

He has a very big scar for it to be heat stroke

54 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Travel insurance is structured as a reimbursement format. Despite the policy wording typically requiring contact before a procedure, it is often impossible to do so, particularly in emergency situations. It takes time to submit, and allow a review of a claim. The claimants often do not provide supporting or complete information. The medical services provider do not provide complete information and hospitals can over charge. Often it comes as a copy of an invoice only.

I once had to go into a decompression chamber due to a diving accident, travel insurance company immediately agreed to pay, i was surprised just how good they were

The same moaners come up with comments on the Gofundme

Its up to the individuals who want to donate their money they are not forced to

End of

If he has any heart issues like high blood pressure they will deny him. Also how much savings do you think he has working at a school here, unless it’s a very high profile private school and he has a Master’s degree. Still don’t agree with the go fund me and the reason he doesn’t have his passport is because he did not pay before he left. Whether he had the funds or just wouldn’t pay until the insurance came to their conclusion.

I have Thai insurance and have rarely had a problem with them and if I do I fight it until it’s resolved or reduced heavily. You have to spend the time every day fighting the insurance company and the hospital. Those who don’t will lose.

4 minutes ago, jcmj said:

If he has any heart issues like high blood pressure they will deny him. Also how much savings do you think he has working at a school here, unless it’s a very high profile private school and he has a Master’s degree. Still don’t agree with the go fund me and the reason he doesn’t have his passport is because he did not pay before he left. Whether he had the funds or just wouldn’t pay until the insurance came to their conclusion.

I have Thai insurance and have rarely had a problem with them and if I do I fight it until it’s resolved or reduced heavily. You have to spend the time every day fighting the insurance company and the hospital. Those who don’t will lose.

Working here he should have SSO health coverage.

16 minutes ago, jcmj said:

If he has any heart issues like high blood pressure they will deny him.

Where do you get this conclusion? A policy pays what the contract says it will pay. If the high blood pressure was declared to the insurer and the condition was stable for the required period of time, a stroke would most likely not be excluded because of the condition. Claims are denied when people are caught trying to deceive or have not declared their health conditions.

"He claims the hospital is withholding his passport because of the unpaid bill"

I see lot of this in stories on Thailand.

In "normal" country not paying bill is only civil matter. It means you can sue the person who did not pay bill, and request court order for court officer to recover the money. You cannot use private vigilante violence to extort a payment, steal the person's property, hold their dog hostage with a gun, et cetera.

In Thailand, probably law similar, but it seems even foreign victims themselves accept this criminal abuse? And passport does not even belong to "you", it belongs to state, so it is technically crime against the sending country, in this case nuclear power United Kingdom. So why not protest?

United Kingdom of course give unreciprocated entirely free medical care every Thai in their country at own taxpayer's expense, and if you stole passport of Thai to get payment even of "real" debt you would be arrested, charged, imprisoned.

5 hours ago, GenX said:

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Michael is also facing medical bills of around GBP16,000 after his insurer reportedly asked him to first settle costs directly with the hospital while they review his medical records, before any decision on paying his claim.

Surely everyone was waiting for this part. Here I quoted it for you

Perfectly normal procedure on the insurers part.