Ex-Marine 'could die alone in Thailand' after massive stroke as borders stay shut

[faraday]

What's the full story then?

 

@babyjesus

[GAZZPA]

5 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

What kind of flight is someone supposed to take who is paralyzed after a stroke and just had a part of his skull removed?

True. I was flying back from Asia and I developed a blood clot on the flight that got stuck in my neck and caused an ischemic stroke. The plane performed an emergency landing in Turkey, i spent 3 weeks in a Turkish hospital but I was not permitted to fly once I was discharged, I had to driven across Europe by my family back to the UK. Travelling at high altitude is potentially dangerous for at least 2 to 3 months after a stroke. I have recovered (thank God) but it seems he had a more severe stroke, perhaps a hemorrhagic stroke which is a bleed in the brain. Best thing is for his family to fly to Thailand and be with him. Terrible situation for him and his family.

[SteveK]

2 minutes ago, GAZZPA said:

 Terrible situation for him and his family.

Agreed, I've donated now, hope the embassy can be arsed to pick up the phone and help out.

[Geordie59]

Knowing someone in a similar position I can say there is no way he would be allowed to fly until brain swelling had reduced and his skull replaced. The exposed brain can't take the changed in pressure experienced when flying.

And I imagine his job would involve stopping poachers rather than rich tourists.

[Hi Tea]

6 minutes ago, SteveK said:

11 minutes ago, Hi Tea said:

Yes, it does matter if you're slagging off the British Embassy in Bangkok when it's the Thai Embassy in London that apparently needs the kicking.

The Thai embassy in London doesn't need a kicking, read their Google reviews. It seems many people have put the boot in already. Makes for some interesting reading. 

We're only talking about the Embassies' involvement in this thread/OP!  It's the Thai Embassy that is getting the flack from the family.

[Hi Tea]

4 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Agreed, I've donated now, hope the embassy can be arsed to pick up the phone and help out.

The family has already confirmed that the British Embassy can be arsed.

 

Congratulations on your public announcement of your generosity!

Edited September 5, 2020 by Hi Tea

[davidill]

Could the http://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/chonburi-thailand help in any way.

[johnray]

I think the kids in Iraq suffered a tad more than rich boy here.

[GAZZPA]

2 minutes ago, Hi Tea said:

The family has already confirmed that the British Embassy can be arsed.

I don't really see what the Embassy can do? In my personal situation the British Embassy attended regular visits in the foreign hospital to check I was receiving appropriate care, they also took care of all the arrangements so members of my family could meet me and drive me across the borders back home. In his situation clearly he cannot fly, the close family members need to go to him and be with him in Thailand. If he needs some mental encouragement to survive he will get that from their presence.. Flying him back doesnt seem like an option to me.

 

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Just weird that you come out with BS, but what else can we expect from you?

 

I see what you did there ????

[GAZZPA]

5 minutes ago, SteveK said:

So what are they doing precisely? It's my tax money, I have the right to know. 

 

Are you an overpaid and useless embassy employee by any chance?

what is it you think the embassy can do? It is not their doing that he had a severe stroke, they do not have magic wands. I am very doubtful any doctor would clear him to fly so the family need to fly to him.

[catch104]

Very strange statement, Repatriation flights to fly out Thailand is about all what is currently flying and I have had hundred of peoples leaving Thailand this way to go back to Europe. So there should be something else where probably his condition does not allow him to get on those flights, or something else  

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, keith101 said:

Why isn't his Embassy helping him getting a flight back to his country on medical grounds , its one of the things they are here for and should be doing all they can to make it happen .

From everything i have read about the British Embassy here they are an absolutely waste of space and dont seem to want to do their job just get paid for being here .

Back off, this is the Daily Mirror story.... not the real story.

Work is under way to get him home as when he's stabalised enough to travel.

[GAZZPA]

3 minutes ago, catch104 said:

Very strange statement, Repatriation flights to fly out Thailand is about all what is currently flying and I have had hundred of peoples leaving Thailand this way to go back to Europe. So there should be something else where probably his condition does not allow him to get on those flights, or something else  

I think you are right. As I have posted I had a stroke on a plane flying from Thailand back to the UK. The pilot did an emergency landing in Turkey and i was stuck in a Turkish hospital, there was absolutely no way they would clear me for flying, I had to be driven back to the UK. I had an ischemic stroke, not a heamorrhagic (which is the worse kind where you have a brain bleed) so i did not require surgery, I am pretty sure he would never be cleared to fly home.

 

[Onedge]

Update from Bert Elson Royal British Legion : Thailand

The British Embassy in Bangkok and the Honorary Consul in Chiang May are in contact with the Royal Thai Embassy in London, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai Airways regarding getting Colin home, there are a number of hurdles they need to get over, he is fit to fly but needs an escort which will be provided by the repatriation company who are dealing with this.The Royal British Legion and Royal Marines Charity have been assisting Colin for over 6 months before he had his stroke.

[GAZZPA]

3 minutes ago, SteveK said:

I guess you're right. Maybe it's better they go back to the freebie BBQ, screw a Brit about to die and family on the other side of the world. Sure the family will be delighted with that.  

I have personal experience of this situation (vey similar), so it was a genuine question that didn't deserve a silly, sarcastic answer. Firstly, I am 99% confident a doctor would never sign him as fit to fly, so what do you expect the embassy to do? Try and answer sensibly minus the sarcastic, emotional nonsense.

[SteveK]

21 minutes ago, Hi Tea said:

Congratulations on your public announcement of your generosity!

You're trying to humiliate me for making a donation to this cause? Even if I donated $1 or $1000, your response is disgusting and cancerous. 

 

Don't you think it's worth donating to?  Would you rather I phoned my credit card and stopped the payment? Did you give anything? No, thought not.

 

Nothing wrong with a bit of lively "debate" but being criticized for making a donation to someone in dire need is where I draw the line. Now I need to figure out how to block someone.

Edited September 5, 2020 by SteveK

[JoePai]

1 hour ago, Hi Tea said:

He's had it here!

Ah sorry, then can anyone say what the problem is if he is getting the treatment here ?

[GAZZPA]

4 minutes ago, Onedge said:

Update from Bert Elson Royal British Legion : Thailand

The British Embassy in Bangkok and the Honorary Consul in Chiang May are in contact with the Royal Thai Embassy in London, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai Airways regarding getting Colin home, there are a number of hurdles they need to get over, he is fit to fly but needs an escort which will be provided by the repatriation company who are dealing with this.The Royal British Legion and Royal Marines Charity have been assisting Colin for over 6 months before he had his stroke.

I might have missed it but do you know how long ago he had the stroke, and the operation to releve the pressure? Seems remarkable he is allowed to fly, unless the stroke and operation were 6 months or a year ago and he is now paralysed from it. However if he is deteriorating and heading toward his death due to the damage then it seems staggering they have him down as fit to fly.

 

[SunsetT]

6 hours ago, Yinn said:

Why so much BS?

...To control the dumb UK masses....And for the owners who live in a tax haven and pay 0% tax in the UK to get even richer!!!

[vandeventer]

He is a vet. I am a vet. you would think the embassy would be pulling out all stops for  him to send him home. In Thailand if you brake a arm they can fix it or a leg they can fix it but brain surgery.Please get him home.

[faraday]

27 minutes ago, Hi Tea said:

Congratulations on your public announcement of your generosity!

Spiteful comment.

[Millcx]

6 hours ago, JCP108 said:

The border is closed for people coming in. But, people aren't restricted from leaving, right?

100% you can get home to Blighty .. Or I’m in a dream and gonna wake up on Samui.

Borders closed for incoming tourists only.

Did the reporter not tell the family that or did they not chat to Embassy ?? .. Something not right here

[GAZZPA]

5 minutes ago, SunsetT said:

...To control the dumb UK masses....And for the owners who live in a tax haven and pay 0% tax in the UK to get even richer!!!

"Dumb UK masses", a bit harsh don't you think. Are you one of the "enlightened" ones with vastly superior intellect who see through all the lies????? We all know you cannot fully trust the tabloids, welcome to the party.. You sound like a "class" warrior to me.

[rupert the bear]

this is a casevac case,hes here alone so needs assistance to set it up,obviously he cant do it alone,hes insured thru his job in SA id presume so he needs to go to SA or london.the brit embassy,basically forget it.hes no relatives perhaps a friend can help or someone on the forum.ive dealt with the consular office there .theyre a disgrace. a colleague who was ill they would not assist as he had a serious bacterial infection that didnt respond to antibiotics,a super bug.would they help ,NO,it was a case of allowing the meds in thru asking the thai health ministry ,the scum flat out rejected that and then when asked to put it thru the emb post no way but their xmas goodies come thru that pipeline and personal needs,they are pieces of scum and thats a polite word for it,my colleague passed away 2 weeks ago,absolutely disgusting,they wouldnt even call him or do anything in regards his case.dont <deleted> on em if theyre on fire let em scream

[Stoker58]

 Regardless of the details of this specific case, the comments here are a good summary of the experience we have all had in dealing with the “British Embassy” in Thailand.

  Helping British people is not on their list of things to do.

[Onedge]

12 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

He is a vet. I am a vet. you would think the embassy would be pulling out all stops for  him to send him home. In Thailand if you brake a arm they can fix it or a leg they can fix it but brain surgery.Please get him home.

AS i posted a few minutes ago, he is getting assistance from the Thai authorities in London and Thailand, The Royal British Legion in Chiang May and the Royal Marines Charity

[kingstonkid]

6 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

Exactly. But these are usually organized and paid for by insurance companies. Hardly anyone can afford such a charter out of his own pocket.

 

Insurance will sometimes (after lots of evaluation) do it if a patient has chance of recovery back home vs the likelihood of deceasing abroad. They will not pay for such an evacuation just for the sake of a patient dying at home though.

 

So this rag reported on the totally wrong issue: The Thai Embassy in London should issue at least 1 or 2 family members a Visa + COE to visit their dying relative. Maybe it would even be possible under the medical visa scheme.

FlyingThai 

 

You hit it on the nose.  If members remember a sort of similar issue happened to a canuck where he required a Med Evac.  If the insurance company had not stepped up there was not way that he could be transferred back to Canada.

 

It is not an Embassy issue it is a money issue and you can almost be guaranteed that no med insurance company will insure a mercenary. 

 

Once the family is able to get the funds then the Thai and British government should be able to help him.

 

It would be interesting to know if the firm he worked for had anything set up for these issues or whether they just wash their hands of these contractors when this happens

 

 

[Pilotman]

Just now, Onedge said:

AS i posted a few minutes ago, he is getting assistance from the Thai authorities in London and Thailand, The Royal British Legion in Chiang May and the Royal Marines Charity

that is very good news. 

[GAZZPA]

3 minutes ago, Stoker58 said:

 Regardless of the details of this specific case, the comments here are a good summary of the experience we have all had in dealing with the “British Embassy” in Thailand.

  Helping British people is not on their list of things to do.

I haven't had to deal with the British embassy in Thailand, i have dealt with the British embassy in a few other countries and always found then very helpful. i am not doubting your word, I have read similar quotes from many so there must be something in it. It's terribly sad and a bit scary to think when you really need them they may not be there.