HOLIDAY TRAGEDY Manchester grandad Shaun Walley electrocuted ‘by cheap Thailand hotel’s HANDRAIL’ as family fight to raise £10,000 to bring body home

[LotusBoy]

"We also have to come to the realisation that we are looking to prosecute a company for gross negligence that have financial difficulties in a very poor country."

 

Ohhhhhh listen to her! Maybe if she stops the Gregg's she can make payment. 

 

Poor country? Never seen to many Lamborghinis and Porsches in my life. Yeah Madchester our kid.

 

[chrissables]

3 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

one more person on the list with no insurance.why not get travel insurance problem solved.now they go begging please help my family.no way sorry

Sitting at home and planning my holiday, i would always think "am i covered by insurance if a hotel is negligent and kills me".

 

He was not hang gliding or scuba diving. 

 

Have some compassion. 

[Peterw42]

Is this deja-vu ? On the back of yesterdays crowd funding scam story.

 

Lets look at the similarities, 

 

The only source for the story is a UK newspaper, and the news paper source is the people running the crowdfunding. No quotes from Thai media or police. No mention that police even attended.

 

An undisclosed location and hotel in Thailand. 

 

No mention of insurance, or lack of.

 

This quote from the story is enough for me to call BS.

 

"Ramona received a phone call from a member of staff at the hotel on the day he passed away to tell her about her father's death". 

 

Hotels dont call the next of kin, the Hilton wouldn't even do this. The police inform the consulate and the consulate inform next of kin etc. How would they know who to call etc.

 

And the same phone call from the cheap hotel , they admitted fault and liability, yeah right.

 

 

 

 

 

[Pilotman]

5 hours ago, bendejo said:

Oh so bad, very sorry.

What?  Give money to farang?  Oh no!

 

 

Thais will not undertand why they need to give money to send a 'body' back home to UK.  It will make no sense to them,  as cremation and then moving the ashes is the obvious thing to do. If that is the reason they are being pushed to pay up, rather than the obvious neglegence question, the argument will have little sway here. 

[Kerryd]

1 hour ago, SABloke said:

There was an interesting post suggesting that perhaps not all the facts were 100% watertight as it were (no name of hotel, somewhere in Thailand etc.) The post also pointed out that the family photos in The Sun were licensed to a publishing company (which is odd for family photos). Anyway, is having the "wrong opinion" or questioning the news against forum rules now as well? 

Yeah. I was kind of wondering about that as well..............

[Aussieroaming]

28 minutes ago, mvdf said:

Nah, forgive me for being blunt but the desperate plea for 10k GBP sounds like exploiting a window of opportunity. Donations will pour in and it's highly likely they will exceed 10k. Then the body is discreetly cremated and chaperoned back to the UK on economy class. As for the rest of the money... well, winter times are always hard times. 

That's why I don't travel in economy class, you never know who will lob up in the seat next to u. However I don't think the poor bloke will be travelling back in economy class..RIP to him. As for crowd funding, if people want to help then no skin off my nose

[Peterw42]

4 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Thais will not undertand why they need to give money to send a 'body' back home to UK.  It will make no sense to them,  as cremation and then moving the ashes is the obvious thing to do. If that is the reason they are being pushed to pay up, rather than the obvious neglegence question, the argument will have little sway here. 

Even if guilty, charged and liable, the liability would not extend to repatriation of a body back to UK.

I doubt any of the story is even remotely true, the people telling the story are the people who benefit from the money they raise.

 

[Oxx]

3 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

one more person on the list with no insurance.why not get travel insurance problem solved.

 

Not all travel insurance includes the costs of repatriating a body.

 

Many of the policies that do only cover the first GBP 1,000 of what can be a GBP 17,000 cost.

 

And (as usual) insurance companies will try to find any possible excuse not to pay.

 

So, not "problem solved".

[sammieuk1]

3 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

one more person on the list with no insurance.why not get travel insurance problem solved.now they go begging please help my family.no way sorry

Maybe pre existing could explain your why not insurance is for the fit and heathy and unaffordable if your not. 

[Peterw42]

2 hours ago, Thechook said:

All these go fund me campaigns, they must be very lucrative.  Appear to be a completely legal way to scam people.  Might have to start one myself

I have been thinking the same thing (especially after the scam yesterday). The beauty of it is, you can tell the papers back home any story, robbed at gunpoint, electrocuted by a hand rail etc, and they dont appear to check the facts. They just take your word for it "and" they publish a link to your gofundme.

[anon537687643]

In countries with “laws” that are meaningful the family could litigate, but hey in thailand ? Hahaha


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[RichardColeman]

If they cannot pay, they should sell the hotel to pay - they killed him afterall 

[Emster23]

10 hours ago, BTB1977 said:

Another go fund me from a family that does not work? Own homes or cars they can get money from? R.I.P sad thing to happen. Spending other peoples money is much better than spending your own I guess. This poor guy worked his whole life for his family, and no one wants to step up and do the right thing for him. 

 Well, how about the hotel selling everything they own? Hotel is liable, and not having insurance is not acceptable excuse.

 Did this actually happen? Is Brit embassy aware of this (one would hope...). I wear rubber soled shoes or sandals as a rule here, even at home. Proper wiring is on a level with quantum physics for most in Thailand

[tingtongtourist]

55 minutes ago, johncat1 said:

The hotel is liable because of their neglect and poor ( if any ) maintenance If they have no money they will have to sell the hotel or use it to get a bank loan. If they cannot do that the hotel owner should be jailed.

The onus should be on the hotel to raise the money not the deceased family

That will never happen.

The guy is farang so the attitude of officials is and will always be

"if he wasnt in Thailand it not happen"

 

Instead of any sympathy expect for the attitude of 

"Look at this rich farang trying to scam money out of the poor Thai"

 

You seem to mistake Thailand with western ways..many time here even a people are hurt or even killed through no fault and they get offered something like 5000 baht

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, johncat1 said:

The hotel is liable because of their neglect and poor ( if any ) maintenance If they have no money they will have to sell the hotel or use it to get a bank loan. If they cannot do that the hotel owner should be jailed.

The onus should be on the hotel to raise the money not the deceased family

Are you quoting a police report/investigation that has come to that conclusion ? You dont find it odd that the people telling the story are the people who benefit from the donations.

[Deli]

Travel to a 3rd world country and be treated with 3rd world mentality.

The risk people underestimate and TAT doesn't tell.

[JAG]

All these going on about insurance:

 

Nearly impossible anywhere in west to get over 3 months insurance for staying in another country, especially Thai

 

If you it will be ridiculous expensive

If you make a claim they will do everything to not pay. Its one big scam

 

Second-these donation website thing you cannot trust.

at least twice now recently we seen people make up BS to cover over what really happen and mostly all Brit.

 

A lot of people here getting in trouble cleaning pool filters or tooling around doing thing they shouldnt be doing as a farang or trying to fix stuff around power and water.

Just leave it to the Thais

 

Sorry for the death of this guy but sorry also i dont believe this live handrail thing for 1 minute

Dont think we hear the whole story here.

 

Well, given that the hotel where he was electrocuted have accepted that it was their fault, and taking into account the standards prevailing here as far as electricity and safety, I can't see any particular reason not to believe this sad story.

 

As for "crowd funding" and British people, the fact that there have been a couple of occasions recently which have proved fraudulent is hardly empirical proof that: all crowd funding appeals are fraudulent, all such appeals involving Britons are fraudulent, and certainly is no reason to suspect this one is.

 

Personally I tend to the view that it would be best to cremate him her and repatriate the ashes.

 

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

[GreytMan]

2 hours ago, tingtongtourist said:

All these going on about insurance:

 

Nearly impossible anywhere in west to get over 3 months insurance for staying in another country, especially Thai

 

If you it will be ridiculous expensive

If you make a claim they will do everything to not pay. Its one big scam

 

Second-these donation website thing you cannot trust.

at least twice now recently we seen people make up BS to cover over what really happen and mostly all Brit.

 

A lot of people here getting in trouble cleaning pool filters or tooling around doing thing they shouldnt be doing as a farang or trying to fix stuff around power and water.

Just leave it to the Thais

 

Sorry for the death of this guy but sorry also i dont believe this live handrail thing for 1 minute

Dont think we hear the whole story here.

 

Not even nearly impossible, but easy. This for one year.

 

 

 

 

[hobz]

They can't afford to help? Shouldn't they be forced to sell the hotel then? I mean... they are responsible? Is there no legal system in Thailand? Sickening.

[hgma]

There are 'star' lawyers on the net tv, who have a reputation to get to the bottom of things,One is recognized by the mount of rings he wear around every finger, the other could be walked out of a soap opera where he performed to be a doctor and thus wearing a white jacket.

The Hotel must pay, how, its their problem, i think publicity would first trigger a vicious amount of venom to the victim and when the star guy's proof otherwise they settle asap or need to close.

probably operate with ANY documentation or permit

Edited November 8, 2017 by hgma

[tingtongtourist]

19 minutes ago, Mansinthe said:

 

 

I pay a little over 240€ in total for 3.5 months .

All asian countrys covered.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Mansinthe said:

 

 

I pay a little over 240€ in total for 3.5 months .

All asian countrys covered.

 

I would not pay that anyway not much good if you live here.

 

Also if you check fined print you might see nearly every possible cause of any incident in another country is not covered.

 

Then next you have problem they will say they wont cover your hospital bill as your hospital is  "not on their list"

 

I cant remember detail but someone report on here a while ago, some travel insurance have a big promotion that they cover motorbike, but in the fine print it exclude any bike over 80cc.

To me it is throwing away money if you dont claim and if you do they will make you crawl through the hot coals of hell to get anything back

Total scumbags if you ask me  

[pattayadon]

7 hours ago, Basil B said:

As much as I agree with your sentiment in this instance what is needed is a good lawyer.

You're not in Kansas anymore Basil..... If the "cheap hotel" doesn't have money..... No money Honey! May this gentleman rest in peace!!

[hobz]

3 minutes ago, hgma said:

There are 'star' lawyers on the net tv, who have a reputation to get to the bottom of things,One is recognized by the mount of rings he wear around every finger, the other could be walked out of a soap opera where he performed to be a doctor and thus wearing a white jacket.

The Hotel must pay, how, its their problem, i think publicity would first trigger a vicious amount of venom to the victim and when the star guy's proof otherwise they settle asap or need to close.

probably operate with ANY documentation or permit

Yeah,, a good lawyer would be nice.... 

[imaderbyfan]

56 minutes ago, Lee4Life said:

What is it with people that always turn everything around to be the victim's fault anyway? Are you perfect in everyway? Always covered by some type of insurance for any tragedy that may happen?

     All of the insurance and money in the world would not bring this poor fellows life back nor comfort his family and friends.

 

           Show some compassion !

Let me clarify a few things for you.

I am in no way saying that this gentleman was in any way at fault.

I am by no means perfect, I have preexisting conditions, which puts adequate health insurance unavailable as an option, so I self insure, in as much as I keep a fund, in a Thai bank, which give me some peace of mind, should I be hospitalised due to illness. This does not stop me having very good accident insurance, which I reckon is invaluable, when in Thailand, where safety standards, road safety, are vastly inferior to those in the West. I hope that I never need to use either my insurance fund or Accident insurance, but then that is the nature of insurance, is it not.

You are right that insurance or cash would not have saved this unfortunate man's life, but it may have helped to get him back home where his family want him, I understand that is one of the main reasons for the fundraising efforts.

And finally, I do not believe that my post indicated that I am not a compassionate man, it would appear that you are mistaking compassion with being pragmatic.

 

 

 

[hobz]

1 minute ago, Mansinthe said:

 

Its a german company and not a asian one or American.

.....

30 years old. So dont think i will drop dead from a heartattack caused by to much viagra as well.

 

 

 

Hahah, I love it,, american and asian companies are 100% greedy scammers.

 

You sure about the viagra thou?? :)

[GreytMan]

9 minutes ago, tingtongtourist said:

 

I would not pay that anyway not much good if you live here.

 

Also if you check fined print you might see nearly every possible cause of any incident in another country is not covered.

 

Then next you have problem they will say they wont cover your hospital bill as your hospital is  "not on their list"

 

I cant remember detail but someone report on here a while ago, some travel insurance have a big promotion that they cover motorbike, but in the fine print it exclude any bike over 80cc.

To me it is throwing away money if you dont claim and if you do they will make you crawl through the hot coals of hell to get anything back

Total scumbags if you ask me  

You are makin g it up as you go along, aren't you?

 

My insurance covers up to 125cc. So your average scooter in Thailand is covered. I also know that someone claimed for a motorbike accident and the claim was paid.

On the other hand, some cheap and nasty policies have ludicrous exclusions.

Like Spain not being included in a European policy

 

But then when people look for the cheapest of the cheap, they need to read the small print.

Go with a reputable insurer and they don't quibble on legitimate claims.

Ridiculous to state that you are throwing money away if you do not need to claim. Are you going to be another GoFundMe candidate if something goes wrong?

Get yourself a decent policy.

 

[tingtongtourist]

4 minutes ago, hobz said:

Yeah,, a good lawyer would be nice.... 

Clearly a lot of people dont know how it works in Thailand 

A lawyer is just another expense they will not get back.

And if Thai court probably will award them 10k baht, case closed and forgotten.

 

Cannot get blood from a stone and anyway as far as i know theres no department in the Thai legal system that forces the guilty party to pay.

 

My Aussie mate have a good saying for this

"They are pushing sh!t uphill" trying to get money from a Thai

[Kiwithai32]

All these going on about insurance:
 
Nearly impossible anywhere in west to get over 3 months insurance for staying in another country, especially Thai
 
If you it will be ridiculous expensive
If you make a claim they will do everything to not pay. Its one big scam
 
Second-these donation website thing you cannot trust.
at least twice now recently we seen people make up BS to cover over what really happen and mostly all Brit.
 
A lot of people here getting in trouble cleaning pool filters or tooling around doing thing they shouldnt be doing as a farang or trying to fix stuff around power and water.
Just leave it to the Thais
 
Sorry for the death of this guy but sorry also i dont believe this live handrail thing for 1 minute
Dont think we hear the whole story here.
 

This is a misconception based on experiences from people who did not read the policy wording even though they are told to do so.



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[alfalfa19]

7 hours ago, observer90210 said:

I am and would be quite shocked to read posts that seem to suggest that it is the deceased who is at fault and consequently up to the family to assume the costs ?!!?

 

RIP to the poor chap and mainly to his family.

 

How would you react if it was a member of your family that encountered such a tragedy due to utter local Thai negligence ?

Thank you for injecting a bit of humanity into this thread. 

[tingtongtourist]

4 minutes ago, GreytMan said:

You are makin g it up as you go along, aren't you?

 

My insurance covers up to 125cc. So your average scooter in Thailand is covered. I also know that someone claimed for a motorbike accident and the claim was paid.

On the other hand, some cheap and nasty policies have ludicrous exclusions.

Like Spain not being included in a European policy

 

But then when people look for the cheapest of the cheap, they need to read the small print.

Go with a reputable insurer and they don't quibble on legitimate claims.

Ridiculous to state that you are throwing money away if you do not need to claim. Are you going to be another GoFundMe candidate if something goes wrong?

Get yourself a decent policy.

 

Actually i have the money to cover anything that happen but i have saved probably millions of baht not to pay insurance while in Thailand. Each to their own tho.

Good if it work for you and if is a good company thats fine.

 

My own country i dont trust. I heard to many bad reports and im not gonna be bothered to fight them if i am already in a bad way.

 

One guy told me he pay premiums for nearly 2 years straight they took his money but then he did find out he was only ever being covered for only the first three months.

 

They blamed  "human error" from the subcontractor agent but said because they dont deal with that agent anymore could not give his money back