British MP Seeks Foreign Office Help for Injured Tourist in Thailand

8 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

He has also been issued with a “fit to fly” certificate on special grounds, although he will require a doctor, nurse and medic to accompany him during the journey.

Fit to fly certificate, I read Ethan has passed away.

4 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Fit to fly certificate, I read Ethan has passed away.

Read the link you posted, not just the headlines, at no stage has it been reported he died, that is just an assumption based on nothing.

“In an update shared through the appeal, the family said: “We made the devastating decision to agree to stop all active treatment and move Ethan onto palliative care.” They added that despite paperwork being signed to withdraw treatment, Ethan was “still breathing and his vital stats remain quite stable”.

The family are now exploring options for medical repatriation to the UK. However, they said they have been quoted costs of “around GBP150,000 or more” to arrange specialist transport and care“

7 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Read the link you posted, not just the headlines, at no stage has it been reported he died, that is just an assumption based on nothing.

“In an update shared through the appeal, the family said: “We made the devastating decision to agree to stop all active treatment and move Ethan onto palliative care.” They added that despite paperwork being signed to withdraw treatment, Ethan was “still breathing and his vital stats remain quite stable”.

The family are now exploring options for medical repatriation to the UK. However, they said they have been quoted costs of “around GBP150,000 or more” to arrange specialist transport and care“

OK, that's good news if still alive after being taken off life support.

I doubt any government financial help will be forthcoming. If they do so for one, they will have to do so for all. No one will bother to take out any insurance if they know that back stop is available.

The extra publicity might increase private donations. That will enable him to be reunited with the three year old daughter that he left for more than a month so that he could have a solo holiday in Thailand.

Seems like he is getting pretty good care in the Thai hospital in the meantime. He’s got a long road ahead of him though.

11 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I doubt any government financial help will be forthcoming. If they do so for one, they will have to do so for all. No one will bother to take out any insurance if they know that back stop is available.

The extra publicity might increase private donations. That will enable him to be reunited with the three year old daughter that he left for more than a month so that he could have a solo holiday in Thailand.

Seems like he is getting pretty good care in the Thai hospital in the meantime. He’s got a long road ahead of him though.

You are right and it would open the floodgates.

Sure hope he pulls through

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

after deciding not to return home as scheduled because flights were expensive.

This seems backwards.

Entering Thailand he would have had a prepaid scheduled return flight as part of the cost of a round trip ticket. Reported in the TDAC?

By extending his stay and cancelling his return flight, yes then the return flight might be more expensive as a single flight than as part of the original round trip itinerary.

Troll post removed.

@flaming dragon this is not the first time you have to be reminded that this the the news section, not the place for you adolescent level trolling nonsense.

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

OK, that's good news if still alive after being taken off life support.

In his case, I wouldn't call "still alive after being taken off life support." It probably would have been a mercy if he has checked-out when taken off of life support. But we each see survival in different terms. Some people wish to survive regardless of their handicaps. Other factor in their future quality of life and as such, choose services such as MAID in Canada. Well - best of luck.

I doubt any government financial help will be forthcoming. If they do so for one, they will have to do so for all. No one will bother to take out any insurance if they know that back stop is available.

They could loan the money to the family...

Do you really think insurance would pay for a guy that fell off a pickup truck? Just a few weeks ago, they denied payment for a lady injured on a pony ride, claiming it was a dangerous activity.

'However, he extended his trip shortly before the accident and forgot to renew his insurance after deciding not to return home as scheduled because flights were expensive.'

The fact that he was riding in the bed of a pickup would negate his insurance anyway, as it is illegal (because it's dangerous and could result in severe injury!) The fact that the law is ignored by everyone, including the police, doesn't alter that. There would be no payout.

7 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Entering Thailand he would have had a prepaid scheduled return flight as part of the cost of a round trip ticket. Reported in the TDAC?

No. Optional information.

18 minutes ago, impulse said:

They could loan the money to the family...

Do you really think insurance would pay for a guy that fell off a pickup truck? Just a few weeks ago, they denied payment for a lady injured on a pony ride, claiming it was a dangerous activity.

They could. I doubt they will. Once again it would set a precedent.

I don’t think I mentioned anything about insurance other than that if the government sets a precedent about paying, or loaning money, then no one will bother to take out insurance.

Since you raise it, I don’t know whether riding in the back of a pick up truck would be covered by insurance. I suspect not, as it’s an inherently dangerous thing to do, despite it being a routine activity in Thailand.

However that doesn’t change the precedent that would be set were the government to pay for a private individuals misfortune overseas.

They could. I doubt they will. Once again it would set a precedent.

I don’t think I mentioned anything about insurance other than that if the government sets a precedent about paying, or loaning money, then no one will bother to take out insurance.

Since you raise it, I don’t know whether riding in the back of a pick up truck would be covered by insurance. I suspect not, as it’s an inherently dangerous thing to do, despite it being a routine activity in Thailand.

However that doesn’t change the precedent that would be set were the government to pay for a private individuals misfortune overseas.

Because families will jump on the chance to get $250K into debt? To the government, no less. I'd bet they could structure it so even a bankruptcy doesn't wipe that clean.

31 minutes ago, Base32 said:

In his case, I wouldn't call "still alive after being taken off life support." It probably would have been a mercy if he has checked-out when taken off of life support. But we each see survival in different terms. Some people wish to survive regardless of their handicaps. Other factor in their future quality of life and as such, choose services such as MAID in Canada. Well - best of luck.

Thanks for your comment.

I jumped to a conclusion, I assumed the worst after reading 'taken off life support'.

Have to agree the British Embassy will not pay money to anyone involved in Accidents hospital bills ect

It would open the flood gates to others with no insurance cover

They will avise on contacting the immediate family concerned but they will not provide financial support

Have to agree the British Embassy will not pay money to anyone involved in Accidents hospital bills ect

It would open the flood gates to others with no insurance cover

They will avise on contacting the immediate family concerned but they will not provide financial support

Admittedly, I'm a Yank, and a tightwad to boot. Still, I'd support my government loaning them the money. Lots of families have the wealth, but it's not liquid. That doesn't help them when the bills are piling up every day. It could take months to sell assets and cobble together the funds, even if they have them. The gub'ment has liquid cash to get the kid back to the UK, then collect it back later.

On an aside, I wonder if they've contacted any of the angel corporations that fly patients around on jets that were going that way anyway? And it's not as if the UK doesn't have government jets flying around anyway, with spare capacity...

This is a definition I consider descibes the the procedure in the way I've always understood it. I think it reasonable for readers to have presumed he had passed away.

"Termination of Life Support refers to the discontinuation of medical procedures that sustain a patient's life, such as mechanical ventilation or feeding tubes, usually in cases of irreversible coma or terminal illness."

Hopefully the family receives the miracle they wish for with their loved one.

I don't know why the debate about payment of insurance continues in this case. He had no insurance. it had expired because he didn't get coverage for his complete holiday

30 minutes ago, impulse said:

Admittedly, I'm a Yank, and a tightwad to boot. Still, I'd support my government loaning them the money. Lots of families have the wealth, but it's not liquid. That doesn't help them when the bills are piling up every day. It could take months to sell assets and cobble together the funds, even if they have them. The gub'ment has liquid cash to get the kid back to the UK, then collect it back later.

On an aside, I wonder if they've contacted any of the angel corporations that fly patients around on jets that were going that way anyway? And it's not as if the UK doesn't have government jets flying around anyway, with spare capacity...

The Australian govt used to loan money in such circumstances (probably no longer), but they would not issue a new passport until all debts were paid.

Unless you are a Billionaire, a celebrity or heading to Epstein's Island it's not easy to hitch a ride on a private jet. Do you think they give a rats about the common man?

Unless you are a Billionaire, a celebrity or heading to Epstein's Island it's not easy to hitch a ride on a private jet. Do you think they give a rats about the common man?

Google Angel Flights. I think you'd be surprised.

Yes, the insurance companies are ver adept at getting out of paying out when people have an accident, but is riding in the back of a pickup truck illegal in Thailand? I don't think so only the number of people is I believe specific, so depending on how many people were actually in the back makes this contentious.

I would Like for someone to break down how the quoted cost of 150,000 GBP is arrived at? This seems like a ludicrous amount ynless this is using a private air ambulance flight and even then it seems extremely costly.

It's a pity that one of the big airline companies cannot help out and get a large amount of publicity by offering a free flight home.such as Thai airways.

3 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I doubt any government financial help will be forthcoming. If they do so for one, they will have to do so for all. No one will bother to take out any insurance if they know that back stop is available.

The extra publicity might increase private donations. That will enable him to be reunited with the three year old daughter that he left for more than a month so that he could have a solo holiday in Thailand.

Seems like he is getting pretty good care in the Thai hospital in the meantime. He’s got a long road ahead of him though.

Perhaps if the mp could get overseas pensions increased the expat pensioners might chip in. Until then, no chance.

24 minutes ago, cheshiremusicman said:

Yes, the insurance companies are ver adept at getting out of paying out when people have an accident, but is riding in the back of a pickup truck illegal in Thailand? I don't think so only the number of people is I believe specific, so depending on how many people were actually in the back makes this contentious.

I would Like for someone to break down how the quoted cost of 150,000 GBP is arrived at? This seems like a ludicrous amount ynless this is using a private air ambulance flight and even then it seems extremely costly.

It's a pity that one of the big airline companies cannot help out and get a large amount of publicity by offering a free flight home.such as Thai airways.

For relatively uncomplicated and stable cases a carrier can block 3 rows in economy and install a stretcher over the top of the seats. This guy is still on the brink of death with or without a 'fit to fly' chit.

It'll probably need an air ambulance and a jet at that. Turbo-prop would be too slow in terms of transport time and crew scheduling. Would need tech stops both ways. Also extra costs for qualified doctor, nurse and medic as well as returning them home after hotel rest as well.

Crew hours would probably see the jet booked for 3 days including flight out, back, and minimum rest interval.

I don't know what that would cost these days but coupled with the hospital expenses so far, I think GBP150k+ is a reasonable ball park figure.

Maybe someone still in the business can come up with something more accurate.

8 minutes ago, CFCol said:

Perhaps if the mp could get overseas pensions increased the expat pensioners might chip in. Until then, no chance.

Thats never going to happen.

They will tax you more when they think they can get away with it.

8 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Fit to fly certificate, I read Ethan has passed away.

Well that's what happens when you don't even read everything that is reported, it has never been reported that he died.

5 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

oubt any government financial help will be forthcoming. If they do so for one, they will have to do so for all. No one will bother to take out any insurance if they know that back stop is available

The MP is just making sure that he is seen to be doing his job.

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Well that's what happens when you don't even read everything that is reported, it has never been reported that he died.

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thanks for your comment.

I jumped to a conclusion, I assumed the worst after reading 'taken off life support'.

Well that's what happens when you don't even read my comments

I explained my actions earlier.

Let's see the MRI and CT scans of the Brain. Then we can make our own judgment.

4 hours ago, impulse said:

They could loan the money to the family...

Do you really think insurance would pay for a guy that fell off a pickup truck? Just a few weeks ago, they denied payment for a lady injured on a pony ride, claiming it was a dangerous activity.

The government could, but it won't, that's what someone else stated, it would open the floodgates to all sorts of claims.

There is no reason that an insurer would not pay to cover the costs after a legitimate accident (which is what it appears happened to him), the family's problem is he didn't have any insurance.

2 hours ago, cheshiremusicman said:

Yes, the insurance companies are ver adept at getting out of paying out when people have an accident, but is riding in the back of a pickup truck illegal in Thailand? I don't think so only the number of people is I believe specific, so depending on how many people were actually in the back makes this contentious.

I would Like for someone to break down how the quoted cost of 150,000 GBP is arrived at? This seems like a ludicrous amount ynless this is using a private air ambulance flight and even then it seems extremely costly.

It's a pity that one of the big airline companies cannot help out and get a large amount of publicity by offering a free flight home.such as Thai airways.

I’m not sure the legality of riding in the back of a pick up truck in Thailand matters.

It’s not illegal to ride a horse in Thailand but the recent case of a lady who had insurance, but couldn’t claim, shows that in surance won’t cover anything they deem dangerous. Whether riding in the back of a pick up truck is so deemed, I don’t know. Off the top of my head I would have thought the answer is yes.