Australian Teen Dies in Koh Samui Motorbike Collision

[shocky2012]

I genuinely don’t understand people who, upon seeing a tragic post about a young man losing his life, feel the need to point fingers and place blame on him. Instead of showing compassion or offering condolences, they choose to criticize someone who can no longer defend themselves.
 

What kind of mindset leads to that? What kind of life do you live where your first instinct isn’t sadness or empathy, but judgment? Do you really believe that in his final moments, he deserved to be blamed rather than mourned?
 

Accidents happen. Life is fragile. Sometimes, things go wrong in an instant, and no amount of hindsight will change the outcome. If you can’t find it in yourself to show kindness in moments like this, maybe it’s best to say nothing at all.

[qwab32]

23 hours ago, kwilco said:

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

Why? And why does it show I'm a bad driver?  Is your brain ok? 

[Andre0720]

On 4/3/2025 at 1:10 PM, NorthernRyland said:

 

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

Yes, and all of this because of the culture here, no police on the roads, no control on driving habits, no control on the wearing of helmets, so young riders, particularly, join in on the absence of rules on the roads.

Who or what is responsible here here, not sure, just a mixture of conditions..

[Andrew65]

41 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Thankfully, it only lasts for one day here on Koh Samui.

Very dangerous for a motorbike rider though.

A full buck of ice cold water - with ice cubes, thrown straight in your face!

My old Thai friend would be in his 80's now, he said when he was a kid, 1950's, it was one day, and just sprinkling drops of water.

[nick supreme]

46 minutes ago, shocky2012 said:

I genuinely don’t understand people who, upon seeing a tragic post about a young man losing his life, feel the need to point fingers and place blame on him. Instead of showing compassion or offering condolences, they choose to criticize someone who can no longer defend themselves.
 

What kind of mindset leads to that? What kind of life do you live where your first instinct isn’t sadness or empathy, but judgment? Do you really believe that in his final moments, he deserved to be blamed rather than mourned?
 

Accidents happen. Life is fragile. Sometimes, things go wrong in an instant, and no amount of hindsight will change the outcome. If you can’t find it in yourself to show kindness in moments like this, maybe it’s best to say nothing at all.

The human head is fragile, which is why people should wear a full-face helmet. Many of these deaths occur because individuals do not use proper safety gear. Thailand lacks a strong culture of safety.

[kwilco]

48 minutes ago, qwab32 said:

Why? And why does it show I'm a bad driver?  Is your brain ok? 

That just re-enforces the observation - it's the Dunning Kruger effect.

[kwilco]

8 hours ago, Ironmike said:

This is nothing to do with the roads in Thailand I've lived here for 23 years ride a bike everyday and watch how many idiots are riding bikes like complete morons, no helmets no clothes and no fing clue they arrive at the airport and leave their brains there. 

What people don't understand is very simple people from Russia drive different to Chinese and again Americans or Australians then they come here and all hell breaks loose. 

Total misunderstanding of the situation - akin to a flat-earth interpretation....

[ChipButty]

13 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

The human head is fragile, which is why people should wear a full-face helmet. Many of these deaths occur because individuals do not use proper safety gear. Thailand lacks a strong culture of safety.

Full face helmet is not always the answer, an accident near me the guy riding his ducati with full face helmet lost his head and the helmet, decapitated 

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, shocky2012 said:

Back in 2016, just a week after my 28th birthday, I had a serious accident in Chaiyaphum—one that nearly cost me my life. My heart actually stopped, and I was on the verge of not coming back.
 

I lost consciousness, and the doctors had to inject adrenaline to restart my heart. I ended up with 37 stitches over my right eye. All things considered, I was incredibly lucky. Even though I spent a week in the ICU, my hospital bill was only around 10,000 baht.
 

I still remember the doctor who was stitching me up when I woke up. He didn’t sugarcoat anything—he told me my heart had stopped and my blood pressure had been dangerously low. Then he simply said, “Close your eyes, stay calm, and I’ll make sure you’ll be okay.”
 

I owe so much to that man. He was the ICU doctor that day at Chaiyaphum Government Hospital, and he quite literally saved my life. That hospital might not have the best reputation, but for me, they were nothing short of amazing.
 

Seeing news like this really hits home. I know exactly what it feels like, and just how fragile life can be. I’m 37 now, and I hardly ever ride a motorcycle anymore—these streets are wild. Please, stay safe out there.

RIP to that young man. My deepest condolences to his family.

Thank you for sharing that story.

I am glad that you made a full recovery (or seem to have).

[rattlesnake]

3 hours ago, shocky2012 said:

I genuinely don’t understand people who, upon seeing a tragic post about a young man losing his life, feel the need to point fingers and place blame on him. Instead of showing compassion or offering condolences, they choose to criticize someone who can no longer defend themselves.
 

What kind of mindset leads to that? What kind of life do you live where your first instinct isn’t sadness or empathy, but judgment? Do you really believe that in his final moments, he deserved to be blamed rather than mourned?
 

Accidents happen. Life is fragile. Sometimes, things go wrong in an instant, and no amount of hindsight will change the outcome. If you can’t find it in yourself to show kindness in moments like this, maybe it’s best to say nothing at all.

 

I definitely agree with you on the substance, I sometimes am shocked by the lack of compassion/awareness displayed on this forum.

 

However, when a person dies in a motorbike accident and was not wearing a helmet, I believe it is perfectly valid to point it out and stress just how utterly stupid it is to do that… because it is, and who knows, it might encourage people to change their habits and potentially save their lives.

[rattlesnake]

On 4/3/2025 at 8:12 AM, spidermike007 said:

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.

 

 

On 4/3/2025 at 8:12 AM, spidermike007 said:

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.

 

This needs to be repeated over and over. Lack of awareness is the core issue and an impact even at very low speed can destroy your life.

[georgegeorgia]

On 4/3/2025 at 2:07 PM, Chris BKK said:

in all if not all then most states in Australia require a helmet even when riding a bicycle one must have a helmet on or maybe the bike is impounded  so why not a helmet in Thailand on a motorbike. Think of the investment made by governments in Australia into this young man's life - child support payments, medical, education etc, All gone before taxes paid in return, simple economics.  His family will be heartbroken as well. RIP Carlos

Not true,one religion in some States is exempt, Sikhs

[georgegeorgia]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Full face helmet is not always the answer, an accident near me the guy riding his ducati with full face helmet lost his head and the helmet, decapitated 

Oh please,  writing that could upset some people, very sad 

[EVENKEEL]

On 4/3/2025 at 12:07 AM, Chris BKK said:

in all if not all then most states in Australia require a helmet even when riding a bicycle one must have a helmet on or maybe the bike is impounded  so why not a helmet in Thailand on a motorbike. Think of the investment made by governments in Australia into this young man's life - child support payments, medical, education etc, All gone before taxes paid in return, simple economics.  His family will be heartbroken as well. RIP Carlos

Laws requiring bicycle riders to wear helmets is going too far. 

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Full face helmet is not always the answer, an accident near me the guy riding his ducati with full face helmet lost his head and the helmet, decapitated 

This has to get the award for the most facile answer on the thread - which would you prefer this or your chin?

 

[kwilco]

 If you want to know who doesn't understand road safety on this thread just count the "confused" emojis

 

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, kwilco said:

 If you want to know who doesn't understand road safety on this thread just count the "confused" emojis

 

I think that is an oversimplification of why they are used.

The confused emoji is the nearest thing to a negative one that AN allow.

[wavodavo]

On 4/3/2025 at 4:17 PM, J Branche said:

Seems they don't understand you only have to be wrong once and you are dead permanently.  

 

I know the helmet may not be comfortable or may be hot but if you value life wear it.

 

Probably never had an accident and doesn't understand the dangers.

 

RIP  young man.  

You can understand what this 20 year old is thinking. here he is on holiday on a nice warm day and loving it especially if he comes from cold Melbourne, rents a bike no license needed no helmet needed. He gets out on the road and says to himsef how good is this my hair blowing in the wind can't do this at home and then disaster.

[J Branche]

1 hour ago, wavodavo said:

You can understand what this 20 year old is thinking. here he is on holiday on a nice warm day and loving it especially if he comes from cold Melbourne, rents a bike no license needed no helmet needed. He gets out on the road and says to himsef how good is this my hair blowing in the wind can't do this at home and then disaster.

Agreed, living live.

Done it.  Been thrown 8 feet in the air by car off my motorbike.  Shoulder busted, 1 year 4 months of rehab.  

 

I think, drive and act much differently now.  I drive like Auntie, slowly, if I make it somewhere a couple minutes late so be it.

[chrissables]

On 4/3/2025 at 1:10 PM, Andrew65 said:

RIP, way too young.

In my 20 years there I avoided riding on motorbikes, the roads are just too dangerous to be on 2 wheels.

In my 20 plus years i have ridden around all of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam and some of northern Laos. Besides off road or green laning only one small scrape lane splitting in Bangkok.

What is dangerous is racing around, no helmet, maybe drunk, maybe zero experience of riding. 

[wavodavo]

22 hours ago, J Branche said:

Agreed, living live.

Done it.  Been thrown 8 feet in the air by car off my motorbike.  Shoulder busted, 1 year 4 months of rehab.  

 

I think, drive and act much differently now.  I drive like Auntie, slowly, if I make it somewhere a couple minutes late so be it.

As my old man used to say.better to be 10 minutes late than DEAD on time.

[ChipButty]

21 hours ago, chrissables said:

In my 20 plus years i have ridden around all of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam and some of northern Laos. Besides off road or green laning only one small scrape lane splitting in Bangkok.

What is dangerous is racing around, no helmet, maybe drunk, maybe zero experience of riding. 

You can add dope and weed to that list,  

[kwilco]

If you think that blaming “bad driving” is a valid comment on this incident or road safety in Thailand, you need to rethink your ideas on road safety and look at the real dangers on Thai roads.

 

There is no crash report for this incident and anything you say is pure supposition.

Every time there’s another tragic motorcycle crash involving young people, the same tired comments pop up: “They shouldn’t have been speeding,” or “They don’t know how to drive.” “high on weed or alcohol”…

Honestly, this kind of finger-pointing misses the bigger picture and does more harm than good.

 

Risky behaviour plays a part that’s “bleedin’ obvious”, but if you keep reducing these crashes to “bad driving,” you’re ignoring the serious, systemic issues that actually make Thai roads among the deadliest in the world. Road safety is a public health issue – if you don’t see that you can’t make a valid comment.

 

Be real! – Thai roads are themselves are unsafe. Badly designed with substandard poorly maintained surfaces,  (loose materials all over Samui’s roads) - zero margin for error, no lighting at night, and sudden drop-offs or ditches make even a small mistake fatal.

There are deadly roadside obstacles are everywhere. Concrete poles, trees, deep drainage canal right next to the edge of the road just waiting for any vehicle that has lost control. In many countries, these areas are cleared for safety or protected with barriers. Not here.

The elephant in the room is the emergency services, which are often slow or poorly equipped. There is a lack of fully trained paramedics and no universal standard for emergency vehicles  Even survivable injuries become fatal because of delays or lack of proper care at the scene and en route to hospitals. – You know of the “golden hour”?

Another cliché is “police do you job” – This requires government action - it seems nobody including the police know what that job is. All over Thailand, there is almost no consistent enforcement. Helmets? Speeding? Underage driving? These things go unchecked far too often.  The police are untrained, equipment is indirectly deployed If there are no real consequences, why would anything change? In fact the concept of traffic police is way too vague in Thailand. An example of police ineptitude is enforcement in the form of random checkpoints – these have been shown worldwide to be ineffective.

 

So instead of repeating the same clichés every time a young rider dies, maybe we should start asking harder questions:

Why was this teen riding motorcycles in the first place? We have to look at those back at home who should have informed him better. Rental shops now have to account for the people they rent to – e.g. valid licences and helmets od ISO quality

Why aren’t the roads built to be forgiving of human error? This is a cornerstone of road safety.

 

And most of all —we should be furious that the system keeps letting this happen – not the victims

Until we start talking about infrastructure, education, enforcement, and emergency response, these tragedies will keep happening. And blaming young people, especially when they’re the victims, just adds insult to injury.

 

Let’s stop accepting this as normal. It’s not, you are just using cynicism to cover your own ignorance.

[wavodavo]

On 4/5/2025 at 11:45 AM, J Branche said:

Agreed, living live.

Done it.  Been thrown 8 feet in the air by car off my motorbike.  Shoulder busted, 1 year 4 months of rehab.  

 

I think, drive and act much differently now.  I drive like Auntie, slowly, if I make it somewhere a couple minutes late so be it.

As my father used to say better to be 10 minutes late than dead on time.

[Purdey]

Had a dirt bike here 20 years ago and went everywhere on it, including Bangkok to Aranyaprathet. Besides a full-face helmet, keeping a sensible speed is important and defensive driving is also a key. It is too easy when you are young to feel invulnerable.

[kwilco]

Can someone say concisely, how will the USA benefit from paying all these tariffs?

[kwilco]

14 hours ago, kwilco said:

Can someone say concisely, how will the USA benefit from paying all these tariffs?

sorry can't delete.

[kwilco]

On 4/9/2025 at 7:45 AM, Purdey said:

defensive driving is also a key.

What is your definition of "defensive driving" and why would you reserve it for Thailand or not do it anywhere else in the world?

[kwilco]

basically you can drive in Thailand if you are a competent driver - someone who has the knowledge, skills, and attitude to drive safely, responsibly, and confidently in all road, traffic, and weather conditions. This applies to driving all over the world but most people are useless at self assessment.

Many people overestimate their driving skills due to overconfidence and routine. It’s the Dunning-Kruger effect in action. Just because someone’s been driving for years doesn’t mean they’re skilled—they may have just spent years reinforcing bad habits. Experience isn’t the same as competence, especially if no one’s corrected those mistakes..