Josh Richardson arrives at a UK hospital | Photo via Lancashire Post

 

The young British man who sustained life-threatening injuries in a motorbike crash in Thailand in February has finally returned home to the UK after undergoing four surgeries in three months at Bangkok Hospital.

 

The 24 year old ice hockey player from Blackburn, Josh Richardson, returned on a flight on £20,000 flight on Thursday accompanied by a doctor, two nurses, and his father. Now, Richardson is receiving treatment at Royal Preston Hospital.

 

Richardson’s mother Susan told the Lancashire Post…

 

“We are so relieved and thankful that we have been able to get him back home close to friends and family. He has now had his peg tube removed and started eating a balanced diet and taking fluids.

 

“He has had his catheter removed, however, this was very painful due to the amount of time it was in. He is now in the high-dependency neuro ward at Royal Preston Hospital. He is currently undergoing further tests and a CT scan.”

 

In total, the defenceman underwent four surgeries in Thailand costing £53,000 (2.26 million baht). The first reset his jaw due to his fractured cheekbones and the second was on his left knee which became infected after the accident.

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/injured-young-brit-transferred-to-uk-for-treatment-after-3-months-in-thailand-hospital

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-25

 

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50 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The young British man who sustained life-threatening injuries in a motorbike crash in Thailand in February has finally returned home to the UK

About bloody time we had a good news story. ????

"Susan said that Richardson’s insurance didn’t pay out because anyone who rents a motorbike above 50cc must have completed a bike competency test in the UK, which he didn’t know because the shop that rented him the bike only asked for his money and driving license."

 

So, from this logic, he therefore assumed that because a motorbike rental shop rents him a bike, he is covered by his travel insurance and the rental shop knows about a UK bike competency test requirement! 

Responsibility for this mess rests on the shoulders of this young man, who now faces partial blindness and other issues. 

 

And yet I see every day here in Pattaya, foreigners of all ages riding around with no helmet, thinking (or blissfully ignorant/careless) they will be fine and nothing will happen to them.  Many also speeding, drunk as well. I won't be forking out cash to help fund a repatriation or hospital costs to these people, with their brains half hanging out their head, guts ripped open, crumpled broken bodies bleeding all over the road.  Bad luck.  

 

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

About bloody time we had a good news story. ????

Is it ? He, got hosed (or donors got crowd-emptied) for 53k, and 20k flight due to voided or no insurance.

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

“He has had his catheter removed, however, this was very painful due to the amount of time it was in.

Looks like yet another fine example of Thai medical expertise, as Preston Hospital removed it (within days??)

Maybe just as bad as Turkish plastic surgery/butchery these days. 

 

 

Edited April 25, 20233 yr by harleyclarkey
Correction

We are responsible for reading the small print on Insurance documents. Most these days ask will you be riding Motorcycles. And will you be driving a motor vehicle . And will you use a Jet ski. All these things put up your premium and excess. He obviously ticked no for over 50cc. Then thought he would ignore it. The responsibility was all his own

12 hours ago, aussienam said:

"Susan said that Richardson’s insurance didn’t pay out because anyone who rents a motorbike above 50cc must have completed a bike competency test in the UK, which he didn’t know because the shop that rented him the bike only asked for his money and driving license."

 

So, from this logic, he therefore assumed that because a motorbike rental shop rents him a bike, he is covered by his travel insurance and the rental shop knows about a UK bike competency test requirement! 

Responsibility for this mess rests on the shoulders of this young man, who now faces partial blindness and other issues. 

 

And yet I see every day here in Pattaya, foreigners of all ages riding around with no helmet, thinking (or blissfully ignorant/careless) they will be fine and nothing will happen to them.  Many also speeding, drunk as well. I won't be forking out cash to help fund a repatriation or hospital costs to these people, with their brains half hanging out their head, guts ripped open, crumpled broken bodies bleeding all over the road.  Bad luck.  

 

I am sure no one will be asking you to splash cash.

Yes. Some of us will be unlucky.

Recall Easy Rider or Stone movies.????????

Good news the young man is back home and slowly recovering. 

I would like to see more responsibility placed on businesses that hire out motorcycle's to people with no license . 

 

I understand all the arguments about checking the small print on insurance documents, but we were all young once and how many of us can honestly say we never did anything reckless?
 

What I don’t understand is why he was treated in a Bangkok hospital. In a state facility his bill would have been considerably less. 

3 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Is it ? He, got hosed (or donors got crowd-emptied) for 53k, and 20k flight due to voided or no insurance.

Hey, Mr Doom & Gloom. 

 

He's back home, it's good news. 

 

It's far better than being stuck here in his condition. 

 

 

Edited April 25, 20233 yr by SAFETY FIRST

Hmmm…. Good to see a happy ending for a change instead of the usual “blood, spurt,artery”

He is lucky.  How many foreigners have died after a month in the hospital leaving a 10 million baht bill. I know at least three in the last year. 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The young British man who sustained life-threatening injuries in a motorbike crash in Thailand in February has finally returned home to the UK after undergoing four surgeries in three months at Bangkok Hospital.

Come to Thailand, rent a motorbike at your peril.

1 hour ago, Kiwiken said:

We are responsible for reading the small print on Insurance documents. Most these days ask will you be riding Motorcycles. And will you be driving a motor vehicle . And will you use a Jet ski. All these things put up your premium and excess. He obviously ticked no for over 50cc. Then thought he would ignore it. The responsibility was all his own

I agree.  At the end of the day, the insured bears the ultimate responsibility to know what’s covered and any limitations or exceptions.. I do also think that insurers could make this process easier — but again in the end, the insured bears the liability.

 

I do think this is a good news story.. insurance issues aside, it sounds like he’s finally back “home” where his social support is most likely strongest and he’ll probably have a better overall long term case management… so to that end, it’s a good news story.

 

 

1 hour ago, PaDavid said:

I understand all the arguments about checking the small print on insurance documents, but we were all young once and how many of us can honestly say we never did anything reckless?
 

What I don’t understand is why he was treated in a Bangkok hospital. In a state facility his bill would have been considerably less. 

You raise a good point on why are foreigners taken to a private hospital rather than a government hospital in the first instance . I think i know the reason and that is for the ambulance personell receive a remittence for bringing in the prey for the private hospital . 

I was involved in an accident on a motorcycle  where I wa taken to a private hospital . I remember nothing about how i arrived there . When i realised more what was going on i asked to be taken to a goverment hospital and that was done . Yet there was a 28,000 baht invoice given for nothing more than laying on a bed for 12 hours .

I learnt that according to law if a person is unconcious then the ambulance staff are obliged to take you to the nearest government hospital .

 

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Good news the young man is back home and slowly recovering. 

I would like to see more responsibility placed on businesses that hire out motorcycle's to people with no license . 

 

5555555 TIT.

1 minute ago, kennw said:

5555555 TIT.

Is that a phone number to your motorcycle business ?

3 minutes ago, kennw said:

5555555 TIT.

Try renting from Hertz or Avis with no license and see how you go .

4 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Is it ? He, got hosed (or donors got crowd-emptied) for 53k, and 20k flight due to voided or no insurance.

Sounded like he did a lot of it to himself.....I hope he makes a full recovery. 

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Come to Thailand, rent a motorbike at your peril.

Most places it's easy to ride around.

15 minutes ago, bignok said:

Most places it's easy to ride around.

Until.... 

2 hours ago, itsari said:

Good news the young man is back home and slowly recovering. 

I would like to see more responsibility placed on businesses that hire out motorcycle's to people with no license . 

 

    good luck with that one    !

Just now, steven100 said:

    good luck with that one    !

Of course I have to agree with your comment . 

If Thailand wishes to progress as a progressive country changes need to be made . That is one that could make a difference to many unfortunate enough to be involved with an accident and be refused insurance as they had no licence . Of course not forgetting the inexperienced riders that are killed or badly injured .

6 minutes ago, itsari said:

If Thailand wishes to progress as a progressive country

They don't. End of.

2 hours ago, PaDavid said:

why he was treated in a Bangkok hospital. 

The body gatherers got more compensation for delivering him there rather than a state facility?

9 hours ago, aussienam said:

Responsibility for this mess rests on the shoulders of this young man, who now faces partial blindness and other issues. 

Totally agree with you there.

 

I call this totally irresponsible, as I have said before, this problem could go away very quickly, if the Thai government would fine and prosecute those who rent bikes without proper insurance and or make people who travel to any country in the world take out travel insurance, sure that would be controlling the masses, but no different to everyday control.

 

Thailand on the other hand is not a nanny state like back home, and therefore these types of accidents/deaths will continue to happen, so the way I look at it is, is that, it is what it is, and I will look after myself, i.e. read the fine prints on travel insurance polices when I travel and make sure that I am appropriately licensed, as for the others, well, can't say I give a fart, so to speak.

Edited April 26, 20233 yr by 4MyEgo

7 minutes ago, itsari said:

Of course I have to agree with your comment . 

If Thailand wishes to progress as a progressive country changes need to be made . That is one that could make a difference to many unfortunate enough to be involved with an accident and be refused insurance as they had no licence . Of course not forgetting the inexperienced riders that are killed or badly injured .

While I totally agree with putting the responsibility onto the renter,  in that the rider must show proof of being fully insured/covered ,  he has the correct licence,  he is not under any toxic influence,  and he would be fully reimbursed by his insurer should he be involved in an accident. 

 

It would be good to think this is the norm,   but sadly it's never going to happen ....   TIT   $$ rules, they just want to rent the bike to anyone.

2 hours ago, arick said:

He is lucky.  How many foreigners have died after a month in the hospital leaving a 10 million baht bill. I know at least three in the last year. 

I Know of one A Very Good friend of mine that had paid his Bills of " Over 1.5 Million Baht " But He Still Passed Away 1 Day after being released from Hospital.....

3 hours ago, itsari said:

Good news the young man is back home and slowly recovering. 

I would like to see more responsibility placed on businesses that hire out motorcycle's to people with no license . 

 

I agree, but maybe also, a complete and inclusive break-down of the hospital bill in Thailand as well? 

3 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

I agree, but maybe also, a complete and inclusive break-down of the hospital bill in Thailand as well? 

That should  be the case for sure .Refuse to pay until you see an itemised invoice .