Appeal Launched for British Teacher Gravely Injured in Thailand Crash

[soalbundy]

When my wife here contracted TB the treatment at the local hospital was having no effect. My wife is privately insured so we went to a private hospital in Surin, after looking at the medication she had been getting for the last two months he said we can do better than that, it's a new European medication but it's very expensive, he hesitated for a few seconds and then said, you needn't pay up front, I'll deal with the insurance myself. He gave us the glass ampules, about 20 and written instructions for our local doctor concerning the injections and off we went, it took 2 or three weeks and she was cured, I never did find out what it cost.

[Kinok Farang]

2 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

If he did not work at a school then what was his visa and why no insurance.No license or helmet or something else be careful.Anyway now he is begging like many

Yawn.

[nglodnig]

6 hours ago, proton said:

on average one rider is killed about every 30 minutes

And he's getting really pissed off with it

I'll get my coat

 

[Confuscious]

I am sorry for the guy his ordeal, but when you drive anything on 2 wheels in Thailand you take a big risk to be involved in an accident.

On a side note, at the school of my daughter, ALL students and teachers were covered by a health insurance of the school (employer). Why did the school didn't provide the same to him?

An Personal Accident Insurance is very affordable and would have him covered for minimum 1 million baht in this case. My last payment to my PA Insurance (70 years old) was 6,500 Baht for 1 year. Not having a basic PA insurance and relay on donations is not the best way to handle such accidents.

[richard_smith237]

17 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

On a side note, at the school of my daughter, ALL students and teachers were covered by a health insurance of the school (employer). Why did the school didn't provide the same to him?

 

The comment below (from the opening article) implies he was no longer a teacher, but was involved in placing other teachers in schools - perhaps through an agency he'd started (or something similar).

 

But, to take this point a step further - many local polices have cap, and perhaps he'd already exceeded this cap with the insurance. 

 

I know a person here who worked at foreign Embassy - due to cuts they put this person on a local contract (with a local health care policy) when this person fell quite ill the policy was insufficient (ICU for 4 weeks), family had to re-mortgage their house in the UK.

 

So, simply have 'a policy' may not always be sufficient.

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

His work recently focused on helping other Brits find teaching opportunities abroad.

Edited Wednesday at 09:32 AM by richard_smith237

[ElwoodP]

Anti-British troll post along with the poster removed.

It's completely unacceptable to abuse a m/c accident victim, that lost a leg.

Off topic rant about 'GoFundMe also removed.

 

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Still, if he was only bicycling, then he cannot be blamed for his own predicament.

 

Why would be be blamed for his own predicament while riding motorcycle but not a bicycle ?   do you know something we don't ???

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

If he did not work at a school then what was his visa and why no insurance.No license or helmet or something else be careful.Anyway now he is begging like many

 

Why is his visa status relevant ?

 

It seems he was running his own business - so no insurance through a school. 

Its not clear if had insurance that was capped, or if he did not carry insurance at all - which of course is foolish, but a lot of folk are in that situation, including many on this forum.

 

There is no information that suggests he was riding without a helmet or unlicensed - like another poster you are alluding to something in a vacuum of information.

[WHansen]

Best of luck

[geisha]

Makes me wonder if all the people who post unkind/ unfeeling  comments on this subject ( and similar), have the 30 000 € and more to pay for an accident  on top of their insurance , if they have any in the beginning that is  ?? So easy to condemn when it’s not you.  As a parent, would you have this money ready to cover your child’s hospitalization ? 

[G_Money]

9 minutes ago, geisha said:

Makes me wonder if all the people who post unkind/ unfeeling  comments on this subject ( and similar), have the 30 000 € and more to pay for an accident  on top of their insurance , if they have any in the beginning that is  ?? So easy to condemn when it’s not you.  As a parent, would you have this money ready to cover your child’s hospitalization ? 

While I have posted no unkind words I can easily cover the amount you quoted many times.

 

While it may appear to some that many are broke/skint in Thailand due to Utube videos that are posted.  It’s more than likely not the norm.

 

 

[gearbox]

1 hour ago, Kinok Farang said:

Pathetic comment.

Pathetic are the freeloaders living on government benefits paid by our taxes.

[still kicking]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Why would be be blamed for his own predicament while riding motorcycle but not a bicycle ?   do you know something we don't ???

 

 

 

 

 

 

He seem to be of his medication again

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

So can I - but not everyone can. Surely you understand that. I don't imagine many of the people I know in the UK have £30k liquid and instantly accessible.

 

How long does a personal loan take to arrange ?...  note the parents were on a flight over to Thailand as soon as they heard of the incident - loans etc may take weeks to arrange. 

For those who can't afford to fork significant amount there is a risk distribution mechanism called insurance. Pay for proper insurance and follow the rules, there won't be any need to find 30k.

 

Acquaintance of mine had bad accident in Samui, weeks in coma, after 2 months ICU and multiple operations he got evacuated to his home country. All in all the bill was probably in the vicinity of 10 mil baht, no issues with insurance payments.

[stament]

2 hours ago, Bundooman said:

Decidedly petty and unnecessary remark from this poster. 

 

Which poster? 555

[bigt3116]

Working legally, totally covered by social insurance

 

Working illegally, bloody well hop home, your choice

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, connda said:

The school didn't offer health insurance to its employees?

 

Appears to be self-employed.

I'd guess a "digital nomad" agent lining up teaching gigs.

 

His work recently focused on helping other Brits find teaching opportunities abroad.

 

who has dedicated his life to setting up teaching gigs for British teachers keen to spread the English language abroad

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, gearbox said:

For those who can't afford to fork significant amount there is a risk distribution mechanism called insurance. Pay for proper insurance and follow the rules, there won't be any need to find 30k.

 

Acquaintance of mine had bad accident in Samui, weeks in coma, after 2 months ICU and multiple operations he got evacuated to his home country. All in all the bill was probably in the vicinity of 10 mil baht, no issues with insurance payments.

 

Thats good news... But I would also hazard a guess that there are many posters on here who do not have cover that stretches to 10 mil Baht - there are many policies that have a cap.

 

 

Equally so, are you so confident that you were fully insured when going on holiday when you were in your twenties ??? - I look back and its not really something I considered - thus, I can actually understand it that others get caught out, more through naivety than anything else. 

 

 

As mentioned earlier - compulsory insurance cover would eradicate this issue and stop the authorities complaining about the burden of unpaid medical costs on Thailands health care system.... But, the practicalities are tricky to work out of course.

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

Working legally, totally covered by social insurance

 

Working illegally, bloody well hop home, your choice

 

I'm not quite sure about that - I've been work permitted here over various projects in the past, I was not aware of any social security health care I had access too (had private cover though). I believe the employer has to set that up, or, if self employed, he has to register for that himself. 

It may not have been something he was aware of, even while (if) working legally.

 

 

 

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Why would be be blamed for his own predicament while riding motorcycle but not a bicycle ?   do you know something we don't ???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riding a motorcycle in Thailand is a known dangerous behavior.

Therefore, if he were riding a motorcycle in Thailand, then...

He would be culpable and responsible and irresponsible, and therefore not worthy of sympathy or financial support.

 

[richard_smith237]

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Why would be be blamed for his own predicament while riding motorcycle but not a bicycle ?   do you know something we don't ???

 

 

 

Expand  

 

Riding a motorcycle in Thailand is a known dangerous behavior.

Therefore, if he were riding a motorcycle in Thailand, then...

He would be culpable and responsible and irresponsible, and therefore not worthy of sympathy or financial support.

 

Riding a bicycle in Thailand is not known as dangerous behavior ?

 

Arguable, riding a bicycle on Thailands streets is more dangerous than riding a motorcycle - does that not make someone culpable, responsible and irresponsible and not worthy of sympathy or financial support ???

 

Reading between the lines there - it seems you might suggest that anyone riding a motorcycle in Thailand is not deserving of sympathy IF they are involved in an accident, even if its not their fault. 

 

Given that the roads are notoriously dangerous, where do you draw the line ???

... Crossing the road - Its dangerous, no sympathy if someone gets hit by a car ?...  Yes, I know thats gaslighting, but your comment is at the thin end of that wedge.

 

 

[Ralf001]

3 hours ago, transam said:

Didn't you ever need help from someone.......?  🤔

 

Not that I can recall.

[chuang]

9 hours ago, gearbox said:

The parents can't find 30k?

They can but others money is sweeter 

[Ralf001]

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

And how would you do that from your hospital bed?

 

wow... you that stupid ?

 

In the context of this thread.... and this lad having scabs for family.... If one of my own was in this predicament I would find the cash quick.... 1.3 million would take me an hour... a few more if I had to put an asset into hock.

 

If it were me in the bed..... yeah same, I can sort cash quick.. but I have insurance so meh.

If I was in a coma and needed coin to pay the hospital..yep that too is sorted through family/friends/employer.

 

as an example.... Jan 04 2023... I fronted to a private hospital in Pattaya feeling a bit off.

diagnosed with severe pnuemonia both lungs and immediately put into a coma and intubated.

4 days later (iam told... might have been more but I was in a coma) my private insurance declined cover citing pre-existing conditions.

Same day that 500k bill was paid in full and I was moved to my social security registered hospital..... which then covered all  expenses until I walked out late March.

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

It's always the "much loved local lads" that end up in Thailand.  🤔

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

wow... you that stupid ?

 

In the context of this thread.... and this lad having scabs for family.... If one of my own was in this predicament I would find the cash quick.... 1.3 million would take me an hour... a few more if I had to put an asset into hock.

 

If it were me in the bed..... yeah same, I can sort cash quick.. but I have insurance so meh.

If I was in a coma and needed coin to pay the hospital..yep that too is sorted through family/friends/employer.

 

as an example.... Jan 04 2023... I fronted to a private hospital in Pattaya feeling a bit off.

diagnosed with severe pnuemonia both lungs and immediately put into a coma and intubated.

4 days later (iam told... might have been more but I was in a coma) my private insurance declined cover citing pre-existing conditions.

Same day that 500k bill was paid in full and I was moved to my social security registered hospital..... which then covered all  expenses until I walked out late March.

 

 

 Brilliant for you.... But you still can't understand that others might not have such fast access to funds ????

 

What was your first line again ?

[john donson]

no insurance ?  no bike license?

 

The 33 year old, who has dedicated his life

 

his life?  since when? 25?

[AlexRich]

I can understand the negative reactions to Go Fund Me, some, but certainly not all, have the sniff of scams. 
 

What I don’t understand is the glee and sneering over someone, who on the face of it appears to be a very decent human being, appears to be a very decent human being. 
 

We have no idea what will happen tomorrow, something like this or worse could happen to anyone of us. Life is unpredictable.

 

So show a bit of compassion. I hope he makes a good recovery and creates a decent life for himself on his return home. His Thailand dream has unfortunately turned into a nightmare … and that can happen to anyone of us. Lest we forget.

[Ralf001]

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

 Brilliant for you.... But you still can't understand that others might not have such fast access to funds ????

 

What was your first line again ?

 

ohh... you another stupid.

 

wow AN has all the stupids coming out the woodwork lately.

 

 

 

[BangkokReady]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

British teacher’s tale takes a ‘Krabi’ turn after leg loss in crash

 

I understand the pressure to come up with snappy headlines, but it's in pretty poor taste to make jokes about someone seriously injured.