'We're asking for help to bring our boy home to Manchester so he's not alone as he fights for his life'

[KhunLA]

7 minutes ago, Bazerino said:

Yeh me too, I've seen a family of tourists on a scooter with a small child, no helmets I really don't get it......

Especially since so many expats on the forum are quite vocal about wearing them.   I see a lot of tanned farangs on their scooters, so assuming they are expats living here.  Besides the ones I see every week here.  I'm surprised I see so many when at Hua Hin, as I'd think more enforcement would make a difference ... apparently not.

 

Surely there's helmet laws in the home country of the tourist.   I also don't get why people do here what they won't or can't do at home.

[Mark mark]

I think in a Country with such GREAT medical Facilities AND Knowhow !!! As Thailand, ... You would be Crazy to even think about Medical Evacuation ??? 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

This is an awful tragedy for the kid and his family, but we are only getting a second, or more likely, third hand account of what happened. No mention in either article of so much as even a preliminary statement from the police; they would surely be investigating if what we have been told so far is factual.

 

Drinking and riding, not wearing a helmet, and possibly using his phone; he certainly pushed his risk factor up about as far as he could. Hope the lad recovers.

[Chivas]

1 hour ago, GinBoy2 said:

I think the Brits, especially the younger ones, with their NHS kinda forget that in most countries it's not a totally free system and there is a price to pay.

 

 

Bang on the money....

[jacko45k]

Just now, KhunLA said:

Surely there's helmet laws in the home country of the tourist.   I also don't get why people do here what they won't or can't do at home.

Here, you get the sun on your back and cool breeze in your hair, at home it would be wet snow!

[Pedrogaz]

I'm from Manchester and a ManU fan myself so I have a certain sympathy with this "lad". But really a 'tourist looking for work', was he driving while on the phone, did he have insurance, why not helmet, 'out for drinks with the lads'?????? 

You can call me heartless, but I will not be sending any donations....he sounds like so many, a victim of his own stupidity (note I say 'sounds like' because I don't know the lad). I feel sorry for the family in this case. 

 

 

[Thechook]

Sad and I feel for his family.  Been out on the turps, no helmet, on the phone and probably unlicensed and no travel insurance.  If he had insurance then that would be void if he was unlicensed or over the alcohol limit.

[quake]

44 minutes ago, Petethefeet said:

I am in koh lanta at the moment. Many locals and tourists on motorbikes not wearing helmets. Some on phones. Some appear to be driving too fast. I have been here 10 days and haven't seen a policeman. 

You need to look under a rock. 

[Sandboxer]

From the article: "CT scans and continued tests then tragically revealed that Jay’s brain function is now minimal."

 

If he's basically braindead now, it's probably sensible to unplug the potato and avoid further unnecessary costs. Frees up space for the next irresponsible tourist road kill.

 

Sorry, my empathy account balance for tourist behavior has eroded to zero over the years..... 

 

 

[quake]

19 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I don't know, but if my child/son/daughter was in this situation I'd go and sell a kidney or sell my car to help him rather than beg strangers for donations, but this is me.

Looks like you would have already lost 5 kidneys by now. 

[raz0r21]

I feel bad for him, and I dont wish that upon anyone. He certainly did take unneccessary risks tho, especially driving at that time of day - with almost certainly several car and truck drivers either high or drunk cruising on the roads. 

 

I dont trust the insurance companies myself, but I do trust my helmet. 

[norfolkandchance]

23 minutes ago, Mark mark said:

... And they are covered by the Compulsory Third Party Personal Insurance, that all the Drivers have I think. ... My Grand daughter just used this system, and it is not bad for an Over Crowded Poorer Country. ... (Well one that are lucky to have a well organized, and the Cheap Government Hospital and just Great, but very poorly paid Doctors and Nurses to go with it. ...

 

I get my Skin Cancers cut off in our Government hospital on Monday. I must figure out a Direct way of being able to Donate to them !!! ??? 

Buy them dinner after their shift.

[hellohello123]

Assuming he had insurance, would it cover eveyrthing from treatment back home , transport back home?

 

 

[Mark mark]

2 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Buy them dinner after their shift.

Some of the Nurses were suggesting that I could Propose to them, during another Skin operation that was having there you Know !!! ... Like TIT, ...  like one of the best Course of Operation, distractions that I have ever had !!! ... And they all were not to bad either !!!

 

Like at Least Thai's have really good senses of Humor if that are in the Position to be able to show it I think !!! ???

[MarcelV]

No insurance, no license, no helmet, on his phone, with a few drinks behind him and way too many kids.

Nah, no sympathy from me.

[norfolkandchance]

Not only tourists. French guy in our town rides a big Royal Enfield. Shorts,Tshirt, gloves and helmet.. This week dumped the helmet for a black beret.

[ChrisKC]

As a Brit, or anyone from a western foreign country, it is almost certain he would have worn a helmet by habit, but knew, here in Thailand, can ride around with impunity from the law and if he doesn't have an accident, he will be fine.

 

He has been unlucky and foolish and these factors have seriously affected the consequences.

 

This man didn't deserve his current predicament but it is understandable it has to come to that.

 

It is interesting that even the time putting on a helmet would have placed him in a slightly different location and a different time and that particular accident would not have occurred; So go most accidents - in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, MarcelV said:

No insurance, no license, no helmet, on his phone, with a few drinks behind him and way too many kids.

Nah, no sympathy from me.

Must have a well paying job in the UK that he can afford to pay child support and still go on holidays.

[norfolkandchance]

8 minutes ago, Mark mark said:

Some of the Nurses were suggesting that I could Propose to them, during another Skin operation that was having there you Know !!! ... Like TIT, ...  like one of the best Course of Operation, distractions that I have ever had !!! ... And they all were not to bad either !!!

 

Like at Least Thai's have really good senses of Humor if that are in the Position to be able to show it I think !!! ???

I had a minor surgical procedure, down below at our local government hospital. The head Nurse invited 3 young 1st Year students to watch. They didn't bat an eye. Unlike me.

[Mark mark]

29 minutes ago, quake said:

You need to look under a rock. 

They are well in their A/C boxes around here ! ? ...

 

... Hence you really do not know if they ARE actually in there ? or Not. ?

 

.... Though well, I went through a red Light on Sukhumvit, and still have not got a ticket, ? (Yet ? ) ... So well, Yes, ... I am Not actually  Complaining about this. ? ... Like the less Police men you see !!! The Better right ??? 

[Mark mark]

Just now, norfolkandchance said:

I had a minor surgical procedure, down below at our local government hospital. The head Nurse invited 3 young 1st Year students to watch. They didn't bat an eye. Unlike me.

It is getting like that in the Immigration Departments now also !!! ... Like TIT ...and it is NOT To Bad !!! 

[mommysboy]

1 hour ago, ignore it said:

Bummer.

But...

No respect for his own life.

No pity from me.

 

Good luck dude.

Next time be more responsible, wear a helmet, be mindful you got kids and a fam. Don't drink and drive. Don't go Larkin about when you should be home looking for work.

 

'Next time be more responsible'  Err, I don't think you quite got the story.

 

"Good luck dude."  Come on... I don't think you really mean that, do you?

[Kiwiken]

Drinking, riding a motorcycle and texting. Had he ridden before if he had rule 101 you don't drink and ride. Only a suicide jockey texts and rides.

[NemoH]

Sorry to have to repeat the most dangerous formula - driving in foreign country comes with risks of unknown to local roads/ culture  + without valid license in foreign country + driving without helmet (against the local law) + likely intoxicated (even if slightly). 
No insurance company - even if he had one - will pay. It’s a reckless disregard of responsibilities to all the people who love him n now they will need to be in debt to bring him back …sigh 

[Mark mark]

Quite Probably it probably was Pretty much all his, still being in the Mind set of a phone conversation.

 

So he WAS not taking the sort of Notice of the other Traffic, that he should have been !!! ... Like on a motor bike you Must be aware, of what every one behind you is doing also, if you ask me ... (And touch wood, one that is still alive.)

[steven100]

I wonder how much have they raised so far  ?

[South]

Back in 2005 a motorbike pulled out in front of me. I was on a big bike (1000cc), hit the woman, knocked unconscious etc. Anyway, woke up in the Government Hospital in Nathon in a mixed ward. Transferred to ICU in Bangkok Samui and had operations there, put on a ventilator etc etc. Cost, over 100k per day, I paid, I had to by borrowing from friends/family etc all of whom were repaid by the way. The thought of somebody else paying for MY accident never crossed my mind. It seems that nowadays people, mostly Brits in my experience seem to think that they have an entitlement.

If you can afford to travel, you can afford to insure yourself! Simple as.

Not an iota of sympathy from me I'm afraid.

[Mark mark]

2 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Sorry to have to repeat the most dangerous formula - driving in foreign country comes with risks of unknown to local roads/ culture  + without valid license in foreign country + driving without helmet (against the local law) + likely intoxicated (even if slightly). 
No insurance company - even if he had one - will pay. It’s a reckless disregard of responsibilities to all the people who love him n now they will need to be in debt to bring him back …sigh 

Yes, sound like it will be a lot cheaper after they disconnect the Life support Equipment ??? 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

How is that relevant?  Presumably he's divorced or separated and his ex has custody of their children.  

Yes, BUT the child support agency in the UK officially cannot get any money out of anyone when they have a long term visa for living in Thailand. 

[10baht]

Did he wear a helmet?