British Family Seeks Aid to Bring Injured Traveller Home from Thailand

[Stargeezr]

I bought a 2 month medical coverage from SMIP, a Thailand based company.

The coverage was for up to 400,000 baht. and cost me about 350 dollars Canadian.

 I had a heart attack and the hospital costs were over 350 thousand baht, so I was very happy

that SMIG approved my claim. This British guy could have done the same, so I have no sympathy

or plan to not support his problem. I hope his family can gather the money he needs to get back to

the UK, or if he recovers, he can maybe go to a temple and become a monk to get support

for food and lodgings for the rest of his stay in Thailand.

[kwilco]

One thing they should do is get an idenpendant viewpointon how he has been treated in hospital

[Kinok Farang]

Long way to go in a dinghy.

[Loyl]

Oops not another one sorry no sympathy 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, proton said:

No insurance again, then does the ultimately stupid thing here of riding a bike, Russian roulette. Don't feel sorry for him at all, now the begging begins as usual.

+1

[Bohemianfish]

I will admit traveling to Thailand in the past without proper insurance. Found out later company insurance didn't cover being abroad. Luckily, was not on any scooters and upcountry and fairly responsible, mitigating some danger.

 

When I was let go from my last company, I thought I had, by default, 3 months of insurance. Unfortunately, were supposed to call them and opt-in.

 

At the time, I was in Europe and was unaware, not trained, about bicycle lanes. I bike with basically a battery ram, a V-shaped welded arrow on the front of me, nearly nailed me in the ankle/shin. That could have put an end to me ever walking again. Could have snapped the shin right there and the bike rider didn't seem to care. Then after Europe was off to Thailand, solidly, no insurance.

 

This will continue to happen. These accidents. Unfortunately. Insurance or not. And people don't mitigate the dangers by wearing a helmet, proper clothing, gloves. You will see it here in the west, USA, most people don't seem to wear helmets riding bikes, scooters, going at high speeds. Sad its not enforced. 

 

 

[GoodieAfterDark]

13 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Where are those pictures confirming he was not wearing a helmet and that the bike was not roadworthy?

 

Pornohub...

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, petedk said:

Haven't I seen this headline a few times before?

More than a few times. My only surprise is that such appeals still get any money at all.

Perhaps intending visitors to Thailand will realise that insurance with a REPUTABLE company is not an unwanted cost to bear.

Good idea to leave insurance details with the family prior to departure.

[harrycallahan]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

One thing they should do is get an idenpendant viewpointon how he has been treated in hospital

In Australia we had one medi-vacced back to Australia from Bali after the money was raised and then they pulled the plug because they were brain dead. Sometimes they just want to keep the meter running 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Bohemianfish said:

Sad its not enforced. 

It's up to people to take responsibility for themselves, not the nanny state, PROVIDED the taxpayer doesn't have to foot the bill when it goes wrong. In Britain given the taxpayer foots the NHS the state has a right to insist on protective gear.

[ronster]

There is a reason that there are so many hospitals on a small island like samui.

[damo1967]

Here we go again.. another one.. pfft.

 

If he had insurance, but 1. not wearing a helmet, 2. didn't have a proper bike licence, 3. had alcohol in his system, 4. even speeding etc... then he is screwed.  He needs to accept the fact he rolled the dice and the GoFundMe should be removed.  I will donate the exact same amount as I did for the last 1d10t... 0thb.

 

What if by miracle they get a full insurance payout (which I will bet my 'left' one will not happen)... but if a full insurance payout.. what happens to the GoFundMe contributions?  Will they fully refund to all who tried to help, or will they pay off their mortgage?

 

LEAVE HIM WHERE HE IS... A HARSH LESSON TO BE LEARNT..  I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR THIS GUY...  MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD PULL THE PLUG.. WILL END UP BEING CHEAPER.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, harrycallahan said:

In Australia we had one medi-vacced back to Australia from Bali after the money was raised and then they pulled the plug because they were brain dead. Sometimes they just want to keep the meter running 

In a profit based medical situation it's all too easy to keep them alive on a machine, even if they are brain dead.

 

Had they tried that on me they would have been out of pocket, given I told my family to never try to pay them in such a situation ( I did always have decent travel insurance though ).

[damo1967]

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

More than a few times. My only surprise is that such appeals still get any money at all.

Perhaps intending visitors to Thailand will realise that insurance with a REPUTABLE company is not an unwanted cost to bear.

Good idea to leave insurance details with the family prior to departure.

100% correct..  if you can not afford travel insurance then you can not afford to travel.

[Harrisfan]

23 minutes ago, Loyl said:

Oops not another one sorry no sympathy 

If you did what difference does it make?

[thaibeachlovers]

In LOS tourist areas I saw so many young western tourists riding m'bikes that obviously had no m'bike license back home, so no cover, didn't wear helmet, so no cover, rode big bikes, so no cover. Seems the education system is a failure as too many idiots traveling.

 

So dumb they even handed over their passport to rent a m'bike.

[hotsun]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In LOS tourist areas I saw so many young western tourists riding m'bikes that obviously had no m'bike license back home, so no cover, didn't wear helmet, so no cover, rode big bikes, so no cover. Seems the education system is a failure as too many idiots traveling.

 

So dumb they even handed over their passport to rent a m'bike.

Reading this thread should be mandatory for all tourists

[smedly]

1 hour ago, Stargeezr said:

I bought a 2 month medical coverage from SMIP, a Thailand based company.

The coverage was for up to 400,000 baht. and cost me about 350 dollars Canadian.

 I had a heart attack and the hospital costs were over 350 thousand baht, so I was very happy

that SMIG approved my claim. This British guy could have done the same, so I have no sympathy

or plan to not support his problem. I hope his family can gather the money he needs to get back to

the UK, or if he recovers, he can maybe go to a temple and become a monk to get support

for food and lodgings for the rest of his stay in Thailand.

medical insurance is not the same as travel/accident insurance

[stupidfarang]

15 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Was he not wearing a helmet?   

 

Are you aware of any insurer that insists on trousers, shoes and collared shirt in addition to a helmet in order to not void a travel insurance policy claim for a motorbike accident, it so, which one?

Insurance companies will always try to not pay, if he did not have a motorbike licence and an international licence to legaly ride a bike then he has little hope of insurance paying out.

[madmitch]

Just bought an annual travel insurance policy for my daughter. Cost £29. Up to £10m medical expenses. 

 

OK, she's young with no pre-existing conditions but that is an extremely good deal with a top name company.

 

I looked at the wording (as that's what I do!) and it's in clear language. Motorcycle provisos: Uk licence required and all local safety laws complied with.

 

I am not going to speculate on this particular incident, but despite having insurance, so many people will be breaching the terms and conditions and they won't be covered in the event of an accident. It's easy to blame the insurance companies for not paying out but those terms and conditions are there for a reason.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I think that those intending to ride motorbikes should be instructed to not wear flip-flops, either

There is proper attire (safety gear) that might be advisable.

Never ride in Thailand, is the advice I always follow...NEVER...

 

This is just a matter of proper education, which will take time, as more and more people adhere to best safety practices.

 

I wore flip flops riding in Thailand, and when I had my accident my feet were fine. The reason I am still alive though is that I wore a decent helmet which was destroyed by the impact with the ground.

I did ride safely though ie not a zillion kph like some idiots I saw zooming past. I was also aware of the hazards on Thai roads eg potholes big enough for a front wheel to disappear into, sand on corners etc. However, even careful drivers can get run into by people not looking where they are going or maniacs, so it's a gamble.

[smedly]

14 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In a profit based medical situation it's all too easy to keep them alive on a machine, even if they are brain dead.

or in a medically induced coma, I don't trust these for profit hospitals, 

[newbee2022]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: SWNS
 

A British family is urgently seeking financial support to bring their loved one back home after a tragic motorcycle accident in Thailand. In a desperate bid, they aim to raise £100,000 to cover the costs of repatriation and medical expenses.

 

The heartbreaking scenario revolves around Okemena Sule, a 30-year-old British man who is currently in a coma after a devastating motorbike collision on Koh Samui, Thailand. The accident occurred on February 2 during what was meant to be an adventurous backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.

 

Eyewitnesses report that Sule's motorbike collided with a car, leaving him with a severe brain haemorrhage. Following emergency brain surgery, Sule remains in a comatose state.

 

Facing soaring costs totalling £144,000 (roughly 6.2 million baht) for Sule's medical repatriation to the UK, his family has turned to crowdfunding for help. Their GoFundMe campaign has thus far raised £35,745 (about 1.54 million baht), a promising beginning but still falling short as medical bills continue to mount.

Ibs Sule, 33 and Okemena’s elder brother, shared the family's plight and feelings of helplessness. "This is the hardest time of our lives. It’s been incredibly stressful. My parents and I came to Thailand as soon as we heard, and we've essentially relocated here."

 

The financial burden is immense, with the hospital bill already accruing to £70,000. The cheapest quote for repatriation stands at a staggering £144,000, which feels insurmountable amid this emotional turmoil.

 

A complicating factor is the uncertainty surrounding Okemena's travel insurance. Ibs Sule expressed frustration over the difficulties in accessing any pertinent information. "We don’t know whether or not he had travel insurance, and the companies make it impossible to find out."

 

The Sule family's appeal is heartfelt, resonating with many, as reported by Yahoo. They are overwhelmed by the support they've received so far. "The support, prayers, and kind messages mean the world to us. Time is running out, and any donation, no matter how small, will help keep Okemena alive and ensure he receives the urgent care he needs. If you cannot donate, please share this campaign with your friends and family."

 

To help the Sule family during this critical time, donations can be made on their GoFundMe page. Every contribution brings them one step closer to bringing Okemena home safely, reported The Thaiger.
 

-- 2025-02-28

 

 

Same tune again and again.

No proper insurance.

Then begging for money.

It's a sad story indeed but self inflicted.

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I wore flip flops riding in Thailand, and when I had my accident my feet were fine. The reason I am still alive though is that I wore a decent helmet which was destroyed by the impact with the ground.

I did ride safely though ie not a zillion kph like some idiots I saw zooming past. I was also aware of the hazards on Thai roads eg potholes big enough for a front wheel to disappear into, sand on corners etc. However, even careful drivers can get run into by people not looking where they are going or maniacs, so it's a gamble.

 

Yes.

Maniacs.

Maniacs are the very worst kind of drivers.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Yes.

Maniacs.

Maniacs are the very worst kind of drivers.

 

Plenty of them in LOS, like the maniac passing a truck coming towards me on a blind corner in MY lane. Pure luck all of us were alive after I managed to avoid the moron by mere inches.

[anyone]

14 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Always Brits no insurance. 

he is from some African tribe

[GammaGlobulin]

3 minutes ago, anyone said:

he is from some African tribe

 

Do you mean:

 

 

I love guys who speak in ... CLICKS...

 

I have met a few, and they are wonderful chaps.

 

[arick]

Ban all motorbike rentals unless you have a Thai license. 

[arick]

17 minutes ago, anyone said:

he is from some African tribe

He has a Nigerian name.

[Gottfrid]

Only 100 000 ????