Fish spas fight back: cast doubt on Aussie woman's toe amputation story

[rooster59]

Fish spas fight back: cast doubt on Aussie woman's toe amputation story 

 

Image: Sanook

 

The owner of a nationwide chain of fish spas has hit out at an Australian woman who said she lost five toes from an infection after visiting a facility in Thailand. 

 

She has been blamed for spreading non-specific stories that would have a negative impact on the well-regulated business.

 

Victoria Curthoys, 29, from Perth was featured in UK's The Sun after a holiday in Thailand back in 2010. They said she had an "indulgent" holiday that featured a trip to a fish spa. 

 

A previous injury to a toe got infected and she blamed the fish spa for being unsanitary leading to the amputations. 

 

Owner of 100 fish spas Chaiyaporn Lojaya was interviewed by Sanook who said that such establishments in Thailand were vetted by the department of public health - they were safe and regulated. 

 

He cast doubt on the woman's claims saying she had not said where or exactly when this occurred. It also happened many years ago and why was she only complaining about Thailand now. 

 

He accepted that there were fish spas that might not be up to standard and not licensed by the authorities in Thailand but the woman should not tar all establishments with the same brush. 

 

Doing so was wrong and could mean economic hardship for responsible operators in the business.

 

Source: Sanook

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-09-15

[seajae]

worried about his profits dropping, since when has Thailand ever had any kind of health and safety people checking anything in the country. Licenced means absolutely nothing as a quick backhander gets it done for you anyway, this is simply about making money, has he ever had these tanks checked for bacteria etc, like basic vehicle safety inspections it just doesnt happen as it costs money to do it

[ezzra]

18 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

A previous injury to a toe got infected and she blamed the fish spa for being unsanitary leading to the amputations. 

Ok.. if you have an open wound or compromised skin issues that you're openly inviting infections just about anything and everywhere you go and do, and sticking one wound into a fish tank is not helpful and simply asking for troubles...

[Psimbo]

2010? The Sun just stirring the excrement as usual.

[Psimbo]

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Ok.. if you have an open wound or compromised skin issues that you're openly inviting infections just about anything and everywhere you go and do, and sticking one wound into a fish tank is not helpful...

...... but it does allow the Thaibashers to keep bashing! the woman was stupid and there appears to be more to this story as well.

[ravip]

11 minutes ago, seajae said:

worried about his profits dropping, since when has Thailand ever had any kind of health and safety people checking anything in the country. Licenced means absolutely nothing as a quick backhander gets it done for you anyway, this is simply about making money, has he ever had these tanks checked for bacteria etc, like basic vehicle safety inspections it just doesnt happen as it costs money to do it

worried about his profits dropping,

Any business would be worried about its profits dropping anywhere in the world.

Never heard of a business that wants to run at a loss intentionally...

[davehowden]

looks like a job for "Big Joke"

[Chris Lawrence]

58 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

He accepted that there were fish spas that might not be up to standard and not licensed by the authorities in Thailand but the woman should not tar all establishments with the same brush. 

So it might have happened? Regulate the industry of toe biters. I have been known to bite on the odd toe, but only when I heard the screams or moaning.

[Megasin1]

yep, after watching all those ultra hygienic Russians and Chinese stick their feet in a tank of fish I just can't wait after I get off the plane to dash to the nearest regulated fish tank and plaice my trotters  amongst the licenced fishes...which according to this guy means there are more licenced fishes than there are drivers. happy days.

[Amo]

If you had a previous infection. Why the he'll would you put your feet in anything let alone walk around in a 3rd world country in open shoes.  The mind boggles 

[connda]

Note to women traveling in Thailand: Do not report rape or disease infections caused by vendors.  To do so may get you thrown into jail and prosecuted. 

[Jonmarleesco]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Victoria Curthoys, 29, from Perth was featured in UK's The Sun after a holiday in Thailand back in 2010. They said she had an "indulgent" holiday that featured a trip to a fish spa. 

And she decided to reveal all eight years later?

[toofarnorth]

4 hours ago, davehowden said:

looks like a job for "Big Joke"

Just what I was thinking but he might be looking in to how many Thais have been murdered on the Isle of Wight.

[Krungbin]

4 hours ago, seajae said:

worried about his profits dropping, since when has Thailand ever had any kind of health and safety people checking anything in the country. Licenced means absolutely nothing as a quick backhander gets it done for you anyway, this is simply about making money, has he ever had these tanks checked for bacteria etc, like basic vehicle safety inspections it just doesnt happen as it costs money to do it

Bla bla bla... quite a few years ago and, what did the doctors of her own country do since?

[chuang]

One day some farangs might claim to have cancer becos of eating somtam in Thailand 

[Naamblar2014]

Big joke the defender of the reputation of the land of smiles.  Busy boy will be off to Perth, Australia next to interview the young lady and acertain if the toes are telling lies.

[dotpoom]

Great value though..."Unlimited time for 150 Bt"...could set up house there?

[jgarbo]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

Ok.. if you have an open wound or compromised skin issues that you're openly inviting infections just about anything and everywhere you go and do, and sticking one wound into a fish tank is not helpful and simply asking for troubles...

Incipient diabetes, later infection, or normal British stupidity - stubbed her toe in a dirty pub. Should have given her the Piranha Skin Nibble, Bt 50 extra. 

[farcanell]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

Ok.. if you have an open wound or compromised skin issues that you're openly inviting infections just about anything and everywhere you go and do, and sticking one wound into a fish tank is not helpful and simply asking for troubles...

wasn’t the origional wound four years post operation?

 

anyway... lots of articles on the net about (suspected) health issues associated with fish spas... lol... even by animal rights activists claiming its bad for the wee fishies 

 

personally, I reckon they (fish spa owner) should pay the clients for feeding their fish with toe jam ?

[Sydebolle]

Certainly not the smartest thing to dip a previously infected toe into a fish spa; I agree. 

Yet it is to be said, that this puddle of dirty water is certainly asking for trouble and there are, humbly said, possibly more hygienic means and ways to treat your feet. 

(Very juicy) profits are dropping in free fall; Chaiyaporn Lojaya might rest assured that by the time high season is back (whenever that will happen again) people will have forgotten the story of the amputated toes and continue to dip their (possibly less than clean) feet into the infectionous sauce of trouble! 

[Borzandy]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The owner of a nationwide chain of fish spas

I would like to know how many fish he owns. And how he has catch them, using slaves or not?

[Stevemercer]

1 hour ago, connda said:

Note to women traveling in Thailand: Do not report rape or disease infections caused by vendors.  To do so may get you thrown into jail and prosecuted. 

 

Or, at the very least, blacklisted from ever visiting Thailand again for tarnishing its tourist reputation.

[newatthis]

Gen. Joke can pop into Perth on his way home from the  UK to verify this story. 

[Caine]

A sorce of HIV infection. Stay well clear.

[Iforbach]

hv butchers at some hotels in europe as to cleanliness etc ,,should taken her head off ,,

[Media1]

Well what regulated. YEAH sure haha. I would never put my feet in there.

[Crossy]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

Ok.. if you have an open wound or compromised skin issues that you're openly inviting infections just about anything and everywhere you go and do, and sticking one wound into a fish tank is not helpful and simply asking for troubles...

Any fish-spa will should may might think about asking about open wounds on the feet, if you have one then no treatment.

 

I got a nasty infection from a simple friction-blister without putting my feet in a fish tank, these things get nasty fast in a tropical environment.

 

 

[Tongjaw]

3 hours ago, connda said:

Note to women traveling in Thailand: Do not report rape or disease infections caused by vendors.  To do so may get you thrown into jail and prosecuted. 

Your wrong, they should report it straight away and not wait 8 years. 

On another note, why would someone from Australia wait so long then out of the blue decide to report it to a U.K. tabloid? Oh wait a minute,,, it was Sun newspaper who also advertises “ We pay for your story”, let’s jump on the “me too” bandwagon. I claim total BS on the story. 

[Tongjaw]

2 hours ago, jgarbo said:

Incipient diabetes, later infection, or normal British stupidity - stubbed her toe in a dirty pub. Should have given her the Piranha Skin Nibble, Bt 50 extra. 

Not normal British stupidity but, perhaps “ normal jgarbo stupidity” for not reading to OP. She’s an Aussie not British. She just reported it to a British tabloid, which so happens to pay for silly stories. No doubt all the Ozzy tabloids realised it was BS and told her to b*gger off ? 

[wvavin]

No, Thais are never in the wrong!