Family Rush to Rescue British Man With Mystery Illness in Thailand

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Daily Mail UK

 

In a race against time, the family of British man Raymond Wallace is working tirelessly to bring him back from Thailand, where he has been hospitalised with an enigmatic illness. The situation began with a surprising early-morning call from a Thai hospital, leaving his family alarmed and fearing they had been duped by scammers until the harrowing reality sank in.

 

Wallace, a 72-year-old retired lorry driver from Sidmouth, Devon, embarked on a brief journey to Thailand. The visit took a drastic turn on Valentine’s Day when he experienced severe breathing difficulties and checked himself into a hospital in Hua Hin. His condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in sedation and a ventilator, as doctors urgently sought to identify his ailment.

 

Initially diagnosed with pneumonia, his condition was later revised to acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, conflicting information from the British Embassy suggested potential kidney issues, leaving the family struggling for clarity on Wallace’s true condition.

 

With his travel insurance having lapsed before his hospitalisation, the family now faces escalating hospital costs of around £3,000 (approximately 127,500 THB) per day. This financial burden prompted them to launch a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to offset the mounting expenses.

 

Doctors have warned the family that if Wallace's condition doesn't improve soon, he might need to be transferred to a more specialised hospital in Bangkok.

 

Picture of Bangkok Hua Hin hospital courtesy: Daily Mail UK

His daughter Karrie, along with her brother, are now preparing to fly out to Thailand, eager to understand his situation more fully. Karrie's background in healthcare has only added to her anxiety, as she handles the frustration of not having clearer answers about her father's health.

 

Wallace's journey, originally meant to be a period of reflection and healing after losing his partner Jane to a brain tumour, commenced in Goa—a place of fond memories for him and Jane. However, an unexpected opportunity led him to Thailand, a change unbeknownst to his family until he casually mentioned it in a message.

 

Now, as Wallace remains in critical but stable condition, his family's relentless efforts reflect their dedication and love as they navigate this challenging chapter. They've been working together remotely, communicating constantly via WhatsApp to coordinate their efforts.

 

“We're trying everything we can,” Karrie shared, highlighting the family's proactive approach in coordinating resources and tackling challenges head-on.

 

Although initially hesitant, the family decided to make their plea public with the GoFundMe campaign due to the escalating costs. At this juncture, the journey to bring Wallace back remains uncertain, yet their resolve remains undeterred. Driven by familial bonds and a fervent hope for Wallace's recovery, they continue to explore every avenue to return him safely to England, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-19

 

 

[Upnotover]

Some very familiar elements to this sad tale.

[pomchop]

I knew it would be yet another go fund me as soon as i saw the headline.

[Scottie12]

His own fault for trying to to scrimp on his insurance policy,I would not contribute a penny to any GoFundMe appeal when it's the persons own fault.

[Purdey]

No health insurance? I get the feeling that someone thought he is fit as a fiddle and forgot the tropics have more than their fair share of rare diseases.

Relying on the money of others is becoming too common.

[hotchilli]

Get him home and take care of him.. 

[proton]

Christ, three thousand pounds a day for a bed in a hospital where they don't know what your illness is seems a bit steep.

[Upnotover]

12 minutes ago, Scottie12 said:

His own fault for trying to to scrimp on his insurance policy,I would not contribute a penny to any GoFundMe appeal when it's the persons own fault.

But but but...."Unbeknownst to him, his annual travel insurance had expired,".  

 

[Colki]

Or, because he extended his vacation to include Thailand he inadvertantly exceeded the expiry date of his travel insurance.

 

 

[Toby1947]

Travel insurance lapsed before his hospitalisation 🤣😂🤣. What a load of boll+cks. I feel a Go Fund Me coming on 😡

[Eloquent pilgrim]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

Wallace, a 72-year-old retired lorry driver from Sidmouth, Devon, embarked on a brief journey to Thailand.

 

A brief trip, yet his insurance had expired before his hospitalisation. I feel very sorry for the guy, but your insurance shouldn't expire on a brief trip, maybe he didn't actually have any. 

 

Too many stories like this, we all have to take proper care of ourselves, it's not the responsibility of others

 

 

[Blueman1]

10 minutes ago, proton said:

Christ, three thousand pounds a day for a bed in a hospital where they don't know what your illness is seems a bit steep.

Well Bangkok Hospital AIN'T Bloody Cheap YENO !!!

[lordgrinz]

Just now, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

A brief trip, yet his insurance had expired before his hospitalisation. I feel very sorry for the guy, but your insurance shouldn't expire on a brief trip, maybe he didn't actually have any. 

 

Too many stories like this, we all have to take proper care of ourselves, it's not the responsibility of others

 

 

 

It's also usually fairly easy to extend your insurance, they even bug you to do so before it expires.

[fuzzie]

I received a email saying my travel insurance e expires today, so I took out a new one  should always check your email   

[VBF]

5 minutes ago, fuzzie said:

I received a email saying my travel insurance e expires today, so I took out a new one  should always check your email   

Agree....and check BEFORE travelling preferably.

[riverhigh]

"Wallace, a 72-year-old retired lorry driver from Sidmouth, Devon, embarked on a brief journey to Thailand."

 

On a brief journey to Thailand and his health insurance lapsed. Give me a break!  I doubt he ever had travel health insurance in the first place considering this lorry driver only knows living in the nanny state where everything is paid for. Photos of him living it up in Thailand gives me the impression that  before coming here he was in good health and consequently took the gamble. Hope he recovers, but ....

[newbee2022]

40 minutes ago, Scottie12 said:

His own fault for trying to to scrimp on his insurance policy,I would not contribute a penny to any GoFundMe appeal when it's the persons own fault.

I absolutely agree.

The family should ask for a bank loan or borrow somewhere but not bothering other people with the stupidity of this guy.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

he might need to be transferred to a more specialised hospital in Bangkok.

That likely will require a deposit of 1/2 million or more baht to guarantee coverage in the specialized Bangkok hospital. Might be more cost effective to return him directly to UK.

[PomPolo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

after losing his partner Jane to a brain tumour

Feel a little sorry for the guy losing his misses recently, but obviously has now realised he is not invincible either without travel insurance.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

the family now faces escalating hospital costs of around £3,000 (approximately 127,500 THB) per day

If he is going to spend a bit of time in hospital best just to repatriate him, cant be far off that price anyways if he is a couple of weeks in there although the 3000 quid a night surprises me for someone only on a ventilator in a Thai hospital, an Air Ambulance would be expensive but commercial airlines can also provide stretcher services better off back in blighty I would say and the free NHS, and in the future learn not travel without the means to support yourself either travel insurance or self-insured then we don't see the relentless gofundme requests.

No donations from me I have to self-insure myself but good luck to him and the family.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

This financial burden prompted them to launch a GoFundMe campaign

[kimothai]

16 minutes ago, fuzzie said:

I received a email saying my travel insurance e expires today, so I took out a new one  should always check your email   

In this day and age, keeping track of expiration dates or important events has got to be one of the easiest/no brainer things to do.  Everyone nowadays has a smartphone that has a calendar that will alarm on event days.  No excuse for missing the expiration, he simply ignored it.  IMHO

[wensiensheng]

38 minutes ago, proton said:

Christ, three thousand pounds a day for a bed in a hospital where they don't know what your illness is seems a bit steep.

Bangkok hospital, one of the most expensive hospital chains in Thailand and experts at finding a way to charge unnecessary exorbitant fees.

[Ralf001]

Hahahahah saw the thread title... came to read and see if gofundme is mentioned.

 

ding ding ding, we have a winner !

[proton]

31 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Well Bangkok Hospital AIN'T Bloody Cheap YENO !!!

 

Not been there for 12 years but then it was reasonable, 3k a night is not.

[Ralf001]

55 minutes ago, proton said:

Christ, three thousand pounds a day for a bed in a hospital where they don't know what your illness is seems a bit steep.

 

Yeah thats bout the going rate for ventilator in ICU.

 

cost me 280k in 2023 for 2 days.... Pneumonia both lungs.

[PomPolo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Wallace, a 72-year-old retired lorry driver from Sidmouth, Devon, embarked on a brief journey to Thailand

Most UK banks provide well covered travel insurance for under 20 quid a month, unless the guy is living here then why not just pay 60 quid for 3 months travel insurance?
Also the article says he was hospitalised in Hua Hin, however the gofundme request says it was in Bangkok.

Possibly a few unknowns to this story.

[billd766]

51 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Get him home and take care of him.. 

And who should pay his bills?

 

Thailand, the British tax payer, Go Fund Me, his previous insurance company, his family, you, me, somebody else?

[Jack Hammer]

The majority of insurance companies will not insure you for travel insurance once you exceeded the age of 69

The few companies that will ensure you the premiums are exorbitant and a lot of strings attached.  Also, they will not cover you for pre-existing illnesses.

I know this from firsthand experience in trying to get travel insurance, I just have to risk it with no insurance

[rwill]

19 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Bangkok hospital, one of the most expensive hospital chains in Thailand and experts at finding a way to charge unnecessary exorbitant fees.

Bangkok hospital in Ratchaburi a nice private room is 8,000 baht/night.

No idea how much they would charge for a ventilator per day.

My wife had a titanium inplant put in her neck, She was in the hospital for about a week.  Total charges were about 150,000 baht.  This was at Bangkok hospital.

[PomPolo]

Just now, Jack Hammer said:

The majority of insurance companies will not insure you for travel insurance once you exceeded the age of 69

The few companies that will ensure you the premiums are exorbitant and a lot of strings attached.  Also, they will not cover you for pre-existing illnesses.

I know this from firsthand experience in trying to get travel insurance, I just have to risk it with no insurance

If you read his gofundme it says along with the wrong city he fell ill in that he is "Normally fit and healthy with no pre-existing conditions", story is full of holes.

So getting travel insurance cheaply from his bank covering his entire trip whatever country he went to should not have been a problem might have been a little more expensive for his age but probably money well spent given the current circumstances.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda up to the family to pick up the pieces now, not a very intelligent traveler to put the burden on them.

[ChipButty]

Bangkok Hospital they are ruthless, here in Phuket,