A man who identified himself as Larry Malpaya, a former Philippine Airlines captain, has been taken to hospital after being found seriously ill beneath the BTS Phloen Chit station area in Bangkok.
The Mirror Foundation said it is now seeking confirmation of his identity through the relevant embassy, while doctors treat an infected wound reportedly extending to the bone.
Found unable to move near BTS Phloen Chit
A Facebook user, using the name Gak Bias Modelling, said he found the man at about 10.30am on 28 July 2026 under stairs near the BTS station, close to the entrance of a soi by Q House on Phloen Chit Road.
According to the post, building security staff said the man had been there since 27 July. Several agencies had reportedly previously tried to help, but he had declined hospital treatment.
The Facebook user described a swollen, red leg with an open cracked wound discharging pus. The man said he had diabetes and was afraid to seek treatment because he had no money, no insurance and had lost his passport.
He was reportedly unable to sit up and asked for water. The man also asked for bitter melon capsules, saying they were for diabetes, and offered 120 baht for them. The Facebook user instead bought him drinking water, bread, pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicine.
Captain's identity still being checked
The man wrote down his name as Mr Larry Malpaya. He said he had lived in Thailand for more than 20 years, was 58, and had a wife in Pathum Thani named Rungnapa, although he suggested they had separated and he could not remember her telephone number.
He also said he had lost all his money trading shares. The Facebook user later found a Twitter account under the same name, featuring aviation photographs and older posts about shares, but stressed that the man's identity had not yet been verified.
When shown a photograph of an airline captain, the man said he had been a captain with Philippine Airlines, the Philippines' national carrier, and had also flown for AirAsia Philippines. He said he had frequently flown into Don Mueang.
Captain Malpaya had volunteered for a high-risk Philippine Airlines Covid-19 mission with Captain Romeo Donayre and First Officer Willex Amelliam. This too remains subject to verification.
Embassy and immigration contact planned
At about 3pm on 28 July, an ambulance took the man to hospital with police and Mirror Foundation staff. Sitthiphon Chooprachong, head of the foundation's Street Patient Project, confirmed on 29 July that the foundation had arranged hospital treatment and would monitor his condition.
He said the foundation would contact an embassy once the man's nationality was confirmed. It may also seek safe accommodation or arrange a return to his country of origin with immigration police.
Picture courtesy of Daily News
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30 July 2026
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