British MP Seeks Foreign Office Help for Injured Tourist in Thailand

3 hours ago, shackleton said:

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

Officially, that is correct but there are unofficial and unpublicised arrangements that do, in certain situations, take care of particular financial circumstances for distressed UK nationals here in Thailand.

3 hours ago, impulse said:

it's not as if the UK doesn't have government jets flying around anyway, with spare capacity

That's even more ridiculously unlikely done them just coughing up financial support.

3 hours ago, Old Croc said:

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

Do you think the private jets that you're referring to have facilities for comatose patients such as the subject of this discussion?

3 hours ago, cheshiremusicman said:

Yes, the insurance companies are ver adept at getting out of paying out when people have an accident

Insurance companies are even more (provably) adept at paying out claims than denying them.

3 hours ago, cheshiremusicman said:

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

As has been reported, he would not be going back on his own. He would need a doctor, a nurse and a medic to accompany him whose flights have to be paid for, as do their return flights and accommodation in UK while they're waiting for return. Those flights to the UK generally have to be business class flights also.

3 hours ago, impulse said:

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

You need to Google Angel Flight...

"We are a non-profit charitable organization of pilots, volunteers, and friends that are proud to serve the heartland area of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas".

2 hours ago, CFCol said:

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

I very much doubt that the latest couple of quid per month absolute maximum increase in state pensions would cover any "chipping-in".

3 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.

They've now had a quote of £33000. On a stretcher on a commercial flight.

so was he pushed? did he jump ? was he drunk ?

cctv ? responsabilty ?

You need to Google Angel Flight...

"We are a non-profit charitable organization of pilots, volunteers, and friends that are proud to serve the heartland area of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas".

You just looked at the top listing? There's Angel Flight West, Angel Flight Australia, Angelflight.coms, Angelflights.org, and many other organizations organizing seats for needy patients that describe themselves as angel flights.

Angel flights are a genre. Not a single entity. The company I worked for in Midland Texas offered empty seats to locals who needed to fly to Houston for treatment that they couldn't get locally at that time ('90s). The planes were going that way every day anyway. And it cost virtually nothing to add a passenger and we got a tax break and great community PR.

I guaranty you that some corporation like BP is flying virtually empty corporate jets from BKK to LHR. When I worked for BP's predecessor in the USA, we had a huge fleet that flew all over, many times with half a dozen passengers, even on a full size jet. I used to have to ride on them myself if my travel plans coincided with a corporate flight. (It sounds more exotic and fun than it really is.) That's the first schedule our internal corporate travel department looked at when we asked them to book us a flight.

BTW, I'd add that, do you really think BP worries about how much of their own jet fuel they consume? Doubt it...

23 minutes ago, impulse said:

You need to Google Angel Flight...

"We are a non-profit charitable organization of pilots, volunteers, and friends that are proud to serve the heartland area of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas".

You just looked at the top listing?

Yes, that's what I did. Perhaps you could point out the company that offers angel flights covering Thailand and the UK.

Obviously it's for the UK government to take care of it's own and not expect any international GoFundMe or Thailand to pay. UK finds billions to give to Ukraine and distribute all over but when it comes to one's own...??

8 hours 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.

Totally agree. Even if they do manage to raise the money to get him home. He will never recover consciousness and will need 24hr care while he is still alive. What kind of life is that. And it’s his family who will have to carry the burden while he is still barely alive.

Decided to extend his stay as scheduled flights too expensive - does that mean he got a 1 way ticket to Thailand not return? If so surprised the airline let him fly because if refused entry it's them that shoulder the cost

On 6/6/2026 at 2:55 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

Do you think the private jets that you're referring to have facilities for comatose patients such as the subject of this discussion?

Perhaps you should have asked this question of the poster who suggested it.

I didn't go into such obvious specifics, concentrating instead on the idea that they would be available at all.

On 6/6/2026 at 11:47 AM, impulse said:

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

Small aircraft, limited range, apparently operating in America's mid-west area. Seems similar to Australia's Flying Doctor service.

If they are flying comatose patients with medical teams in large jets halfway around the world free of charge, I'd be very surprised. I await your research to prove me wrong.

20 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Perhaps you should have asked this question of the poster who suggested it.

I didn't go into such obvious specifics, concentrating instead on the idea that they would be available at all.

Perhaps you shouldn't suggest who I respond to just because you don't like my commenting on your post.

21 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Perhaps you shouldn't suggest who I respond to just because you don't like my commenting on your post.

I was just trying to assist someone who clearly has difficulties working out where he should respond to particular point. Why would you ask me a question about something another poster said. We're not forum buddies, I thought I made that clear years ago. You seem obsessed.

21 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Perhaps you shouldn't suggest who I respond to just because you don't like my commenting on your post.

Perhaps you shouldn't quote my post if answering a question someone else asked.

Read your own statement above before telling me I shouldn't respond to your pettiness!

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

Why would you ask me a question about something another poster said

Because you commented about it on the forum and I was posting about your comment!

On 6/6/2026 at 10:07 AM, Bangkok Barry said:

The fact that he was riding in the bed of a pickup would negate his insurance anyway,

Isn't all baht buses just a pickup?