British family struggles with father’s funeral costs in Thailand

[snoop1130]

 

The sudden death of a British man from Sunderland has left his family reeling, both emotionally and financially.

 

Alan Carr Bryan, a well-known Sunderland local nicknamed “The Bear” passed away at his hotel in Pattaya on July 28, prompting his daughter, Abigail Ilsley, and stepdaughter, Natalie Parish, to travel to Thailand for his funeral and to settle his affairs.

 

Despite his prior travel insurance, Bryan unknowingly overstayed his coverage, leaving his family with an unexpected financial burden of approximately £6,000 (around 270,000 baht). Bryan’s ex-wife, Julie Robertson, mother to Abigail, described their ongoing relationship.

 

“I am his ex-wife, but we had been in touch constantly through our daughter. We were still friends; we had always been friends. He used to phone me from Thailand and introduce me as his wife. I would say, ‘We have been divorced for 24 years’.”

 

The family’s concern grew when Bryan abruptly ceased communication.

 

“He was supposed to be in contact with us, but we could not get hold of him. His phone was just ringing, his Thai phone was just ringing – then one of his friends told us he had found him in his hotel room and he had passed away.”

 

Ilsley and Parish are staying with a friend of Bryan’s in Pattaya but are still facing a steep bill for travel, funeral, and paperwork costs.

 

Robertson has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expenses.

 

“We have raised about £2,100, but it was four grand just for the flight.”

 

The 71 year old man was a beloved figure in Sunderland, renowned for his size and athletic prowess, earning him the nickname “The Bear.” He attended Red House Comprehensive and was the top shot putter in the country at 15. Bryan also played rugby for Belford House and football for various teams. He worked as a bus driver and bouncer in the city centre.

 

A cremation ceremony has already taken place in Thailand, and a memorial service will be arranged later, reported Sunderland Echo.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Julie Robertson via Sunderland Echo

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-16

 

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[Gottfrid]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

We have raised about £2,100, but it was four grand just for the flight.

BS! Two persons can fly with return tickets for 2 000 dollar. Not 4 000 pounds. So, they already have enough money. Stay a while and cheap funeral costs in Thailand should not be a problem for a full family.

[theblether]

"Unknowingly overstayed his insurance coverage." 

 

Once again - and this applies to all Brits. You must be covered for every day you are out of UK airspace or territorial waters. That includes the travel days ( which should be obvious ). To make it clear and easy - 

 

If you have thirty day travel insurance, and you are out of the country for thirty-two days - you don't have travel insurance. If you are not covered for every day then you are not covered at all. 

 

You are not insured for the first thirty days and you can take the risk on the last two days. You are not covered at all. So if you crash a motorcycle in the first week and the insurance company discovers you are flying back on day thirty-two, they will deny your claim. If you don't believe me, call your insurer and ask. 

 

Insurance companies are now brutal on this matter. 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“We have raised about £2,100, but it was four grand just for the flight.”

So, who paid the four grand just for the flight until now?

And why did they fly to Thailand if they can't afford it?

It seems some people have this attitude that they always have to find someone else to pay.

[freedomnow]

First class baby !

[JimTripper]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

BS! Two persons can fly with return tickets for 2 000 dollar. Not 4 000 pounds. So, they already have enough money. Stay a while and cheap funeral costs in Thailand should not be a problem for a full family.

Who wants to travel economy to a funeral? Have some class.

[SAFETY FIRST]

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

British family struggles with father’s funeral costs in Thailand 

GoFundMe coming shortly 

 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A cremation ceremony has already taken place in Thailand

Looks like it's happened. 

Just need money for other reasons. 

 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He used to phone me from Thailand and introduce me as his wife. I would say, ‘We have been divorced for 24 years’.”

This is weird 

 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bryan unknowingly overstayed his coverage

Maybe couldn't be bothered renewing. 

 

[milesinnz]

Average funeral costs in the UK 4,800 pounds.. over 200,000 Baht ?... average funeral costs in Thailand The cheapest was about 8,000 baht, while those that lasted longer and required more items cost more than 50,000 baht, some close to 100,000 baht. - seems dying in Thailand is a bargain..

[jacko45k]

7 hours ago, theblether said:

"Unknowingly overstayed his insurance coverage." 

Hard to believe really.

A funeral here, I would expect to be  somewhat cheaper than one back in the UK. Although I hear there is some basic service being offered back there now. 

As someone else said, everyone seems to be looking for someone else to pay for things, and cover their lack of foresight. 

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

BS! Two persons can fly with return tickets for 2 000 dollar. Not 4 000 pounds. So, they already have enough money. Stay a while and cheap funeral costs in Thailand should not be a problem for a full family.

Yeah, but did you look at the size of them?

I don't think they fit in cattle class seats.

 

As for cremation costs, about 10kbht.

[Gottfrid]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Yeah, but did you look at the size of them?

I don't think they fit in cattle class seats.

 

As for cremation costs, about 10kbht.

Yeah, I saw that. Maybe they are objects for the need of 2 seats, and then it will be around 4k. That´s possible.

It can be around 10k baht, but very rarely. I had a Swedish guy that I know, would not call him friend, that died. However, they always want to do little bit for respect, so there will be some food, payment for monks and a little extra. I thought that was cheap, though. Only 25k baht.

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

GoFundMe coming shortly 

 

If you read before posting, you would know a GoFund me is already set up.

[prakhonchai nick]

If you cannot be bothered to visit a family member regularly during their life, why bother to attend the funeral?

[hotchilli]

28 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Hard to believe really.

A funeral here, I would expect to be  somewhat cheaper than one back in the UK. Although I hear there is some basic service being offered back there now. 

As someone else said, everyone seems to be looking for someone else to pay for things, and cover their lack of foresight. 

Go fund me the easy way out...

[soalbundy]

45 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

Average funeral costs in the UK 4,800 pounds.. over 200,000 Baht ?... average funeral costs in Thailand The cheapest was about 8,000 baht, while those that lasted longer and required more items cost more than 50,000 baht, some close to 100,000 baht. - seems dying in Thailand is a bargain..

A can of petrol and a fire pit is even cheaper. Even if the family did nothing he would still be cremated. I met a monk in Surin who was collecting donations for someone's cremation whose family couldn't afford the cost, there was no need for them to fly to Thailand.

[Presnock]

7 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

So, who paid the four grand just for the flight until now?

And why did they fly to Thailand if they can't afford it?

It seems some people have this attitude that they always have to find someone else to pay.

That's like the idiots that go to the autocrat ruled lands, get thrown in jail for something very minor or trumped up charge and thrown into the local prison and then they and their families complain that their government is not doing enough to free them.  Total idiots should not be allowed to travel to those countries in my opinion.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, soalbundy said:

A can of petrol and a fire pit is even cheaper. Even if the family did nothing he would still be cremated. I met a monk in Surin who was collecting donations for someone's cremation whose family couldn't afford the cost, there was no need for them to fly to Thailand.

I believe the embassy will arrange something basic, although they don't seem to advertise it. 

[bkk6060]

Big and fat looks like he abused his body. And, he left absolutely no access to money to any of his family?  Or, maybe he was flat broke?

Why come at all maybe have his friends here deal with it.

 

 

[1happykamper]

Why bother going to Thailand at all? Especially if they couldn't afford it. Arrange for his ashes to be shipped. All done. 

[arick]

Payday loan from the UK flights are under £700

[Ralf001]

What is it with Brits and gofundme ?

[sungod]

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

What is it with Brits and gofundme ?

 

Decades of governments have turned the UK into a handout culture, people in the UK expect the government to provide everything. In this case there is no government handout for overseas funerals so the next best thing is start a go fund me and get someone else to pay.

[roo860]

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

What is it with Brits and gofundme ?

It isn't only Brits, there's equivalent sites to Gofundme worldwide, covering people from different countries, which you won't see on AseanNow which reports incidents in Thailand. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

If you read before posting, you would know a GoFund me is already set up.

Nothing wrong with having more than one. 

 

Can you predict the future? 

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Yeah, but did you look at the size of them?

 

Yes.

 

When I first saw the photo, I had thought they might be from Atlanta, Georgia.

 

 

Creamy and DIVINE...

 

Some people live to eat.

 

Nothing wrong with this, of course.

 

Some of my best friends are super duper....

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The 71 year old man was a beloved figure in Sunderland, renowned for his size and athletic prowess, earning him the nickname “The Bear.”

 

 

I don't understand the problem.

 

As for me, they can just cart me off to the nearest temple, and set me on fire.

 

This is, really, the way I want to go.

 

This is really:  The ONLY way to go, IMHO.

 

[prakhonchai nick]

23 minutes ago, sungod said:

 

Decades of governments have turned the UK into a handout culture, people in the UK expect the government to provide everything. In this case there is no government handout for overseas funerals so the next best thing is start a go fund me and get someone else to pay.

And the idiots contribute!!!!!!!!!

[prakhonchai nick]

2 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

 

I don't understand the problem.

 

As for me, they can just cart me off to the nearest temple, and set me on fire.

 

This is, really, the way I want to go.

 

This is really:  The ONLY way to go, IMHO.

 

I'd rather avoid the temple, the chanting disinterested monks, the villagers hanging around for days on end for free food and booze etc. Throw my body to the crocodiles. They will be happy

[GammaGlobulin]

Just now, prakhonchai nick said:

I'd rather avoid the temple, the chanting disinterested monks, the villagers hanging around for days on end for free food and booze etc. Throw my body to the crocodiles. They will be happy

 

Saltwater or Freshwater?

 

[rwill]

Hopefully he had a good time before passing away.