Australian Teen Dies in Koh Samui Motorbike Collision

[Patong2021]

The fact remains that at 19 years old he was an adult and capable of making big boy decisions. He screwed up and now is gone. Of course it is a tragedy and sad, but it was his choice. Stop blaming  the police for non compliance with  common sense safety. No one forced him to speed or to not wear a helmet. He knew what he was doing .

 

8 hours ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

So sad, condolences to the family; these totally unnecessary deaths will keep happening here because there will never be the proper legislation, or enforcement of it, regarding motorcycle hire. It’s only about the Baht.

How about holding people responsible for their actions?  Compliance starts with ourselves.

[Liverpool Lou]

20 minutes ago, kwilco said:

24 minutes ago, qwab32 said:

RIP young man.  I live on Samui and the way people drive here is crazy.  The main road is like a racing circuit at times..so dangerous. 

That is a totally unhelpful comment, it just shows you are a bad driver.

No, it doesn't. it doesn't say anything at all about how he drives.

[kwilco]

19 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it doesn't. it doesn't say anything at all about how he drives.

Always the same response from the same uneducated few.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

46 minutes ago, kwilco said:

That is a totally unhelpful comment, it just shows you are a bad driver.

 

 

 @qwab32made a perfectly reasonable comment about how dangerous the roads on Samui are, which anyone who lives there, or has driven there knows; so please explain how that makes him a bad driver, and makes his comment unhelpful.

 

 

[black tabby12345]

Dream holiday,  ended up as the one way journey to this kingdom.

 

Numbers of foreigners died of traffic accidents here: 536 in 2022(and 7885 injured).

He is now part of the grim new statistics.

RIP...

 

 

[Mason45]

I first hit Pattaya in the year 2000, I was only there for a few days when I made my first golden rule. Tourists have such a wide variety of accommodation and baht buses in Pattaya so why do they need to rent motor bikes. If a tourist is staying to far from his favorite bars then they should seek accommodation close to where they drink. Alcohol and motor bikes can be a lethal combination as is the case every night in Pattaya for whats supposed to be a fun vacation.

[Jiggo]

5 hours ago, Badrabbit said:

Then buy something good, mine is Shark full face, expensive but your head is worth it.

It's not about me, I do have a decent one, I'm saying in general.

[NoDisplayName]

58 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Have you never, not once, ridden your bike without a helmet, anywhere, regardless of the length of the ride or the circumstances?

 

Guilty.

 

I never rode without a helmet.  Even put it on when moving from the gas pump to the front of the convenience store to get Slimjims and a slushie.

[zepplin]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy Daily Mail

 

An Australian teenager's dream holiday in Thailand has ended in heartbreak. Carlos Guirguis from Melbourne lost his life in a motorbike accident on Koh Samui. The 19-year-old reportedly tried overtaking a vehicle without a helmet and lost control.

 

Thrown from his bike, he suffered severe head injuries and despite efforts from emergency responders, he was declared dead on-site. The crash occurred early on March 27 near a 7-Eleven store. Thai authorities found a Honda motorbike at the scene and confirmed Carlos's identity.

 

Carlos, an apprentice plumber, was remembered as having a "beautiful soul". The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is now aiding his grieving family through this painful time. Family, friends, and co-workers have shared warm tributes to the young man.

 

 

 

Neighbourhood Plumbing, his workplace, expressed grief by posting heartfelt messages honouring Carlos's kindness and positivity. His sudden death has left a profound impact on those who knew him. A family member shared on social media how they’re grappling with the loss.

 

Thailand's roads are notoriously dangerous, claiming nearly 15,000 lives in 2022 with over half involving motorbike accidents. The Thai government is committed to enhancing road safety measures. Yet, incidents like Carlos's serve as stark reminders of the ongoing risks for visitors.

 

As his loved ones mourn, they also highlight the importance of safety while travelling. This tragic incident echoes the broader issue of road safety in Thailand, urging continued efforts for improvement.

 

Based on a story by The Thaiger

 

-- 2025-04-03

 

 

Just another wannabe bike rider here on samui that never makes it home… if the authorities here published the real figures on how many lives are lost on a daily basis here, they would hopefully think twice about renting a death trap scooter! 
But as usual he left his brain in a airport locker and thought that going at warp speed would make his holiday soooo much better!

f around and find out the hard way …next!

[frank83628]

5 hours ago, Badrabbit said:

Then buy something good, mine is Shark full face, expensive but your head is worth it.

A tourist renting a bike while on island hopping holiday isn't going to buy or carry a full face helmet.

[BangkokReady]

6 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Can't blame the roads this time, it was a reckless motorbike rider without a helmet that basically killed himself.

 

While this is partially true, the lack of law enforcement, which is part of "the roads", likely contributed to him not wearing a helmet.

[frank83628]

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

As posted elsewhere:

 

Many of us drive motorcycles or scooters here, and it is dangerous getting on the roads with some of these other drivers. Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, or alot of riding experience, is like playing Russian Roulette with three or four bullets in the chamber. It is absolutely asking for problems. The degree of recklessness here is astounding. And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"? Well, the answer is alot.

 

The amount of foreigners who are killed on the Southern islands is staggering. Most are not reported in the media. I had a friend who worked for Samui rescue for many years, and said the numbers were about 30-60 a month, on Samui, Phangan Phuket and Dark Tao. The official number is about 3 a month. Rider beware. Use as good a helmet as you can afford, and do not use these eggshells pieces of crap. They crack at the first impact, and what lies underneath them? Your skull, which is very delicate.

 

I have been riding bikes for 49 years. Without any serious accidents. A few minor ones over the years. Riding a bike here is very dangerous. If not the highest, one of the highest fatality rates in the world. And an accident here can be very costly, to your person.  Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already, without a broken skull, or smashed head, or face injury, or lost eye?

 

I have three friends who have been in motorbike accidents on Samui. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. The third one is a close friend, who was hit by a sidecar, and nearly lost his leg. 11 operations later and after spending many millions of baht, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg has caused him constant problems, many years later. 

Dark Tao.... hahaha, I forgot that was you.

 

The egg shells are crap, yes,  however if it breaks after an impact, at least its after.

If I were to hit you on the head with a hammer, would you choose to wear the egg shell helmet, or nothing?

 

 

[kwilco]

2 hours ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

 

 @qwab32made a perfectly reasonable comment about how dangerous the roads on Samui are, which anyone who lives there, or has driven there knows; so please explain how that makes him a bad driver, and makes his comment unhelpful.

 

 

No you didn't, your comments on the roads on Samui is made TOTALLY without reason - you are just blurting out untutored unthought out and unreasoned cliches

[Packer]

overtaking a vehicle without a helmet

[NorthernRyland]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

 

While this is partially true, the lack of law enforcement, which is part of "the roads", likely contributed to him not wearing a helmet.

 

Yeah certainly people get killed because of other dangerous drivers who the police will never stop. This particular case was operator error though and possibly in some other scenario he may have been the reason for another innocent driver getting killed. Lots of blame to go around here.

[grubman]

RIP young fella and condolences to his friends and family 

 

I have been riding bike in Thailand for 15 year, i only ride a big bike and have toured many areas in Thailand. I don't own a scooter and when i do ride my bike, no matter how far i am riding i always use a helmet and proper riding gear, yes it is a hassle to get all the gear on for a small ride, but i want to protect myself. I am very aware to the drivers on the road and anticipate them to do stupid things and they often do. 

 

I have seen in many tourist areas idiots renting scooter and ever the Yamaha 700cc scooter, riding like they have no care for their life and others life, I was in Phuket in January was shocked as to how many were speeding through traffic with only shorts and flip flops, they are just an accident waiting to happen

 

The should be strict rule for the hiring of any kind of bike from scooter to big bike other wise the carnage will continue to happen 

[Jimjim1]

8 hours ago, joedee said:

People don't wear helmets because it is not enforced enough by the Police.

If the Police enforce this rule more, people will wear a helmet.

If enforcement is continued, then people will wear helmets as a habit.

It takes time but continued enforcement works. 

I work in Goa in India. 20 years ago nearly nobody wore a helmet here.

Now nearly nobody travels without one. Due to police enforcement..

The Police and Government should implement stronger enforcement and ongoing

road safety messages in all media channels.

Bet you have lost count of how many times you have seen a cop on a bike not only going on the wrong side of the road. But also not wearing a helmet. 
I know I have and after 22 years I have stopped bothering to notice..

ENFORCEMENT is an easy word to spell but it seems impossible to understand

[kwilco]

17 hours ago, Packer said:

overtaking a vehicle without a helmet

Why should a vehicle have a helmet??

 

[Jimjim1]

5 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Why should a vehicle have a helmet??

It’s Thai reporting logic in the vane of “The CAR lost control “ god knows what the driver was doing.

[newnative]

10 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Can't blame the roads this time, it was a reckless motorbike rider without a helmet that basically killed himself.

    True, but he would be alive today if Thailand did not allow unlicensed tourists inexperienced with both motorcycles and Thailand's roads to rent motorcycles.  Add another needless tourist motorcycle death to the list of dead and severely injured.  

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Jimjim1 said:

It’s Thai reporting logic in the vane of “The CAR lost control “ god knows what the driver was doing.

That's the story given by the police and first responders..... what is disturbing is that people accept it and their conformation bias allows them to.  Virtually every comment on this post is toal nonsense just a litany of prejudice and cynicism to cover their ignorance. They think that blaming the driver is somehow clever whn in fact it just shows how little they understand about road safety.

[Jeff the Chef]

38 minutes ago, kwilco said:

That's the story given by the police and first responders..... what is disturbing is that people accept it and their conformation bias allows them to.  Virtually every comment on this post is toal nonsense just a litany of prejudice and cynicism to cover their ignorance. They think that blaming the driver is somehow clever whn in fact it just shows how little they understand about road safety.

 

The average human can run 10 mph, go for a run and throw yourself on to the ground with ordinary everyday clothes on and no head protection, come back and tell me how much you enjoyed the fall.

Every individual is responsible for their own safety, nobody else.

[kwilco]

3 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

The average human can run 10 mph, go for a run and throw yourself on to the ground with ordinary everyday clothes on and no head protection, come back and tell me how much you enjoyed the fall.

Every individual is responsible for their own safety, nobody else.

I'm perfectly aware of how vulnerable a head is - all you actually have to do is fall over and fail to put your hands out.

however the cliche of responsibility just shows you don't understand even the basics of road safty - I don't think a single poster has said anything that shows an understanding of road safety.

[Jeff the Chef]

1 minute ago, kwilco said:

I'm perfectly aware of how vulnerable a head is - all you actually have to do is fall over and fail to put your hands out.

however the cliche of responsibility just shows you don't understand even the basics of road safty - I don't think a single poster has said anything that shows an understanding of road safety.

 

Who do you think is responsible for your road safety?

[kwilco]

40 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

Who do you think is responsible for your road safety?

Road safety is a public health issue and in all countries with low death and injury rates it is planned by the government. You don't have a clue, do you? As a foreigner in Thailand with that attitude, you are not only a danger to yourself, you are a danger to others.

[watchcat]

11 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

Are you included bicycles? I ride 2x a week in CM

 

Your at the bottom of the ladder good luck.

[SAFETY FIRST]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's roads are notoriously dangerous, claiming nearly 15,000 lives in 2022 with over half involving motorbike accidents

I reckon we could reduce this figure by half or more if riders would wear helmets. 

 

RIP Carlos 😞

[Jeff the Chef]

2 hours ago, kwilco said:

Road safety is a public health issue and in all countries with low death and injury rates it is planned by the government. You don't have a clue, do you? As a foreigner in Thailand with that attitude, you are not only a danger to yourself, you are a danger to others.

 

It wasn't a trick question, "Who do you think is responsible for your road safety?" yet you failed to answer it, except for more drivel about road safety and public health, whereas the simple answer is "YOU are firstly responsible for your own road safety by following the Countries rules".

 

As for the rest of your diatribe, you have no idea of my driving abilities or attitude, but I will say this, I was a Professional Heavy Goods Vehicle Driver for 40 years, that never had an accident that was proven to be my fault, I averaged over 125,000 miles every year, all over Europe, Türkiye, Middle East, Pakistan and India.

 

FYI, from Goggle:

 

According to the most recent data collected by the World Health Organization to 2021, Thailand ranked 16th out of 175 countries in road fatalities per 100,000 population, at 25.4. That same year, the WHO recorded 18,218 road traffic deaths in the country, an average of 50 per day.

 

 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, PB172111 said:

Unless you are part of the lads family.

R.I.P

Indeed.. condolences

But I was meaning the Thai authorities who do nothing to curb the bike rental business, and the renters who are happy to rent-out to unqualified riders with no protective equipment or experience in many cases.

profit over safety.

[NanLaew]

19 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

That number is greatly understated.

Thailand only counts those people who die at the roadside - like this poor lad.

When the victims die in the ambulance, at the hospital or elsewhere, it is not counted as a road death.

RIP Carlos.

 

Do you have any proof that this old "at the scene" road death classification is still in use, or is it possible this is just another case of trope recycling because Thai people lie or have no common sense?