"British" man fallen on hard times in Bangkok set to be repatriated

[Jonathan Fairfield]

"British" man fallen on hard times in Bangkok set to be repatriated

 

Image: Wanlop Duangcharoen

 

A Facebook post indicated that a British man was now in the custody of the Lumpini police in Bangkok after being found destitute. 

 

Rumor was rife in comments that this might be a man who came to Thailand with money and who met a Thai woman who relieved him of his money. 

 

Many Thais were speculating and sharing the story after pitiful pictures were posted online. The post had been shared more than 1,200 times.

 

Wanlop Duangcharoen said that he was now with the Lumpini police and that contact had been made with his embassy. 

 

Comments suggested that the man is called Robert Clark Penna and he is from the United Kingdom. 

 

People commenting on the photos on Facebook suggested that the man's family were coming to Thailand to collect him. 

 

 

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[tracker1]

Could be a few more the way the Baht is going !

[Thaiwrath]

What a shocking state of affairs, horrendous, and sad state to be in.

Hopefully his family will take him back to UK, he can try and get back on his feet.

[sammieuk1]

I suspect that's the headline will be hearing a lot soon and looks like a similar scene from any UK town and city good luck to him ????

[Dmaxdan]

12 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Rumor was rife in comments that this might be a man who came to Thailand with money and who met a Thai woman who relieved him of his money. 

If true then certainly not the first and won't be the last. I hope his family do indeed come for him.

[darksidedog]

I have seen many over the years who stayed on and stayed on trying to scratch an existence, but most in the end managed to cobble together a ticket and went home. Seeing the depths to which this guy has gone to is tough. I suspect the details of his story may well be messy, but I wish him the best in getting his life back together soon.

[colinneil]

Heart breaking to read stories like this, so many times it happens.

Been there but i got on a plane and got out quickly, turned my life around, then came back, and hit the jackpot.

Hope nobody is hoping for help from the British embassy, as it wont happen.

Hopefully his family can help him, get him back to the UK, AND SORT HIMSELF OUT.

Good luck mate, please do not think bad about Thai people, there are many bad ones, but also many, many good ones.

[NCC1701A]

At the rate I am going that will be me soon.

 

But seriously I am glad he is getting some help.

 

[faraday]

As Sammie says a similar scene in the UK...

 

So sorry for him, came here no doubt with some dreams, & it all goes horribly wrong.

 

Despite what anyone might think, we are all just a few wrong turns from homelessness or any of the sad unfortunate events that too many people experience.

 

Truly hope he is able to access proper help in the UK. But being a single older man, it won't easy.

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, faraday said:

As Sammie says a similar scene in the UK...

 

So sorry for him, came here no doubt with some dreams, & it all goes horribly wrong.

 

Despite what anyone might think, we are all just a few wrong turns from homelessness or any of the sad unfortunate events that too many people experience.

 

Truly hope he is able to access proper help in the UK. But being a single older man, it won't easy.

Yes, those wrong turns are usually Females and alcohol .

If you are going down a slippery slope , get off before its too late  

[geoffbezoz]

Just now, sanemax said:

Yes, those wrong turns are usually Females and alcohol .

If you are going down a slippery slope , get off before its too late  

That is being very judgemental as we do not know the facts surrounding this persons past private or business life.

 

Based on your apparent generalisation every destitute/beggars on the street of the world are there solely due to either/and being an alcoholic or having an unfortunate relationship with a female.

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, geoffbezoz said:

That is being very judgemental as we do not know the facts surrounding this persons past private or business life.

 

Based on your apparent generalisation every destitute/beggars on the street of the world are there solely due to either/and being an alcoholic or having an unfortunate relationship with a female.

No, I was talking about this guy in particular, in Thailand .

And I did also say "usually"  and usually guys in Thailand who fall into that state , it does indeed involve drink and girls 

[geoffbezoz]

4 minutes ago, sanemax said:

No, I was talking about this guy in particular, in Thailand .

And I did also say "usually"  and usually guys in Thailand who fall into that state , it does indeed involve drink and girls 

So to ensure your point has a sound factual basis, rather then a point based on your own personal prejudices perhaps, provide a link or links supporting your statement "usually guys in Thailand who fall into that state".

[Essex Reject]

Looking at those pics this is about as bad as it gets.

 

I use to wonder how on earth people could get into such a mess but can see now that some bad luck, bad decisions etc, and it can happen.

[bert bloggs]

Thank goodness ,i have such a lovely Thai family that i know 110% would never let this happen to me ,or my British family .

[giddyup]

It appears he may have some mental problems. Why on earth would anyone be sleeping under the sink?

[faraday]

3 minutes ago, Essex Reject said:

Looking at those pics this is about as bad as it gets.

 

I use to wonder how on earth people could get into such a mess but can see now that some bad luck, bad decisions etc, and it can happen.

A neighbour of my parents - over 25 years ago, very wealthy, got into gambling. His boat went, then his business & then, the marital home.

 

[faraday]

3 minutes ago, giddyup said:

It appears he may have some mental problems. Why on earth would anyone be sleeping under the sink?

There's nowhere else, & it gives a bit of protection.

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, faraday said:

There's nowhere else, & it gives a bit of protection.

You mean there's no roof where he's living, and if it rains at least his head is dry?

[ianezy0]

Whatever the reason, no one should have to endure this.

 

[faraday]

4 minutes ago, giddyup said:

You mean there's no roof where he's living, and if it rains at least his head is dry?

Possibly, but I wouldn't know.

[Farangwithaplan]

You would have to think addiction or mental health issues are contributing to this guy's situation. Would you lay on a floor that dirty. Even if you are destitute but of sound mind, you could try push away the rubbish and debris before laying down. Unfortunately is only one of the many who need some assistance.

[RichardColeman]

Be honest, if his family don't take care of him on return, he'll be in the same situation but huddled in a cardboard box 

[spidermike007]

Not sure if I would prefer being homeless in the US, or here. Both are horrendous thoughts. The homeless population in America is exploding, as the middle class continues to get decimated by fiscal policy, the lack of benefits from corporations, stagnant wages, dramatically rising prices, especially for housing, and policies that favor the wealthy.

 

In the US, many people are one paycheck away from being homeless. 63% of the population has three months wages, or less, for savings. We like to think ourselves immune from such a tragic state of affairs, but a series of calamities can put people on the street, without warning. Many homeless were hard working souls, who were living in a home they rented for years, at $1,200 a month, barely getting by. The home gets bought by a new owner, the rent gets increased to $3,500, and they have no hope of paying that. They start looking around, and see that there is nothing affordable. Had they planned for it, they would be able to survive. Some do not plan. If it were me, I would stiff the landlord for three months rent, save my earnings, sell everything I own, and move to a small town in Idaho, rent a house for $500 a month, and start all over again. But, some do not think rationally, when faced with an emergency situation. 

 

Here it helps, that the standard of living is alot more reasonable. It is alot easier to afford a 6,000 baht a month room, or a 10,000 baht a month home in a small town, than it is to pay $3,500 a month for a 2 bedroom house or apartment in Los Angeles. But still, running out of money like this guy is tragic. 

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2016/01/06/63-of-americans-dont-have-enough-savings-to-cover-a-500-emergency/#150845464e0d

[Essex Reject]

16 minutes ago, Farangwithaplan said:

You would have to think addiction or mental health issues are contributing to this guy's situation. Would you lay on a floor that dirty. Even if you are destitute but of sound mind, you could try push away the rubbish and debris before laying down. Unfortunately is only one of the many who need some assistance.

I think it's fair to say he would have lost the plot, goes without saying. When he comes around he's hardly likely to start chatting to people about Brexit, the weak pound and the cricket world cup.

[KhaoYai]

47 minutes ago, sanemax said:

No, I was talking about this guy in particular, in Thailand .

And I did also say "usually"  and usually guys in Thailand who fall into that state , it does indeed involve drink and girls 

Don't understand the negative comments - you are absolutely correct.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

I have seen many over the years who stayed on and stayed on trying to scratch an existence, but most in the end managed to cobble together a ticket and went home. Seeing the depths to which this guy has gone to is tough. I suspect the details of his story may well be messy, but I wish him the best in getting his life back together soon.

Sadly lots of examples of this. I'm also aware of an Australian who was near death (this is about 18 years ago), he had zero funds and refused to do anything to get himself out of Thailand.

 

Eventually a group of friends pooled some funds to buy him a ticket one way from Bkk to Brisbane, the friends went to his room and packed some clothes and documents and took him to the airport (then Don Muang). 

 

They had concerns that after check-in he would quietly find a way back to the open check-in area and quickly return to his room. One of the friends spoke to the check-in supervisor hoping the guy would help. The airline guy did listen and he called the police,

 

Pleasant senior cop arrived quickly and listened well then said 'we will escort him onto the aircraft and wait until the aircraft door is closed', and they did and they came back to the group of friends and said, 'aircraft has departed and he was on the aircraft'. 

 

His brother in Brisbane had been alerted and met him when he arrived in Brisbane and took him home. His health went further downhill (AIDS) and a couple of months later he died.  

[Lucius verus]

In fairness to the embassies there are so many of these distress cases they can't dole out taxpayers  money to all of them, so contacting next of kin is pretty much it.

The family will be up for extra costs including overstay fine maybe even food and medicines not to mention a new passport.

Farang passports sold on the street are now almost worthless due to advances in security&technology so no quick cash there.

[faraday]

What happens if someone like him, has no surviving relatives, or friends or any money to get back to their home?

Surely they can't stay in the IDC 'til they die?

[Henrik Andersen]

What ever happened you are responsible for your self and always have a plan b.  

He could just go embassy and contact family 

Why end up as a street bum??? 

There is more to the story that we know and hear of... 

To meny come here with little money and end up with nothing 

Remember this.. 

You can't live a champagne life on a water budget...