British Man's Urgent Plea to Save Dying Father in Thailand

[kingstonkid]

26 minutes ago, J Branche said:

Wait. So you want others to pay the equivalent of 1.5 million baht to 2.5 million baht to transport him to the UK. Top Hospitals in Bangkok can treat him and I'm just guessing but I think it would be cheaper.  

 

I will never understand the I'm going to wing it and make high risk decisions and if things go wrong some hero will step in to save me Mindset.  

 

 

Addisons is not something that blows up in one day Bang you have addison.  It is something that gradualy gets worse.  They shouldhave had him on meds a long time ago and he probably would not be this bad.  

 

I am sorry but sympathy in this case is a word in the dictionary between S  and S.

 

When I get to that point that it is no longer feasible I just want people to prop me up leave me alone and let me die.

 

DO NOT RETURN TO SENDER

[Bundooman]

Through no fault of his, this young man is doing his best. It's not his fault yet he is desperately trying to help his father.

I wish him luck.

There may be someone out there wealthy and kind enough to help him.

However, probably like myself, most of us are on a controlled budget, and unable to help him financially.

Very sad,

[Bundooman]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Oh NO, another one with insufficient health care and funds.

But hey, why not go for other people's money?

He came to Thailand for retirement? Could have saved 300£/month easily.

This would be now enough (40.000£ probably) to take a fly wherever he wants.

No need for any donation at all.

Thank you for your unnecessary and unsympathetic viewpoint.

[Bundooman]

52 minutes ago, Ironmike said:

Must be a first a British person that hasn't started a gofundme I thought the Poms started those before leaving England to come he so they get free holidays or pay for stuff after they have accident and need money. 

Tango, Whiskey,Alpha Tango!

Suits you well!

[Bundooman]

36 minutes ago, ronster said:

With everything that was wrong with him then retiring to Thailand without proper medical insurance was crazy.

As for getting him back to UK for treatment I'm pretty sure after a certain amount of time out of the UK that you are not fully covered for NHS treatment and have to foot the bill for part of any medical services.

That is true. You have to pay.

[newbee2022]

3 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

Thank you for your unnecessary and unsympathetic viewpoint.

I appreciate your qualified comment ❤️

[Kinok Farang]

Fair play to the lad for looking after his Dad.But 77 is not a bad age to pop your clogs and at least the've both got a good tan while the've been here.

[kiwikeith]

16 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The guy looks like death already.  Why even medevac him?  Get him back and he dies?  Can't they treat those ailments here?

Probably, but he might have fallen out with the Dr's 

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, Ironmike said:

Must be a first a British person that hasn't started a gofundme I thought the Poms started those before leaving England to come he so they get free holidays or pay for stuff after they have accident and need money. 

Its say donation fund at the bottom, but not that specific one

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

And in my view, he could have had his father removed years ago if things were looking bad, but instead they wait until 2025?

 

More info available through other sources.

 

Reginald Leo, 76, moved to Pattaya, a city south of Bangkok, with his wife Valerie last May to join their son Jonathan, 33, who had been living in the country since 2017.

 

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/national/25063063.son-desperate-bring-critically-ill-father-home-thailand-help-save/

[Lopburikid]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Oh NO, another one with insufficient health care and funds.

But hey, why not go for other people's money?

He came to Thailand for retirement? Could have saved 300£/month easily.

This would be now enough (40.000£ probably) to take a fly wherever he wants.

No need for any donation at all.

I had and still have medical insurance B4,000,000 cover. I was told by the insurance company that they pay the hospital directly. After 3 days in hospital the bill was B25,000. Hospital said the insurance has refused to pay. My wife called the company and asked why? They said we have to pay first and claim it back.  we had the money to pay. so we did. put a claim in, took 3 months to get B23,000 back. We had to pay B2,000 for the service. Never trust a Thai insurance company. The sole purpose of having medical insurance is if there is a medical emergency, the funds are there to cover it.

[NoDisplayName]

19 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

Through no fault of his, this young man is doing his best. It's not his fault yet he is desperately trying to help his father.

I wish him luck.

There may be someone out there wealthy and kind enough to help him.

However, probably like myself, most of us are on a controlled budget, and unable to help him financially.

Very sad,

 

His son Jonathan, who has given up his job in finance to take care of Mr Leo, is desperate to bring him back to the UK for treatment but faces financial and bureaucratic hurdles.

 

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/national/25063063.son-desperate-bring-critically-ill-father-home-thailand-help-save/

[NoDisplayName]

11 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Its say donation fund at the bottom, but not that specific one

 

Yes, it's a gofundme.

 

The link is included in other articles online.

[Gaccha]

Some very major updates by the son: 

 

"As things move forward following Friday's earthquake in Bangkok, things have also continued to be delayed in acquiring an answer from the UK embassy with regard to whether my dad would receive the care needed on arrival back in the UK on time and there is a concern over NHS waiting lists. The last thing I would want for him is to be repatriated back there, only to find he would be waiting for a year for treatment.

 

It seems the best option will be to keep my dad here in Thailand and look to proceed with an amputation, investigation into his internal health issues and to put him on a feeding tube until his weight is brought up. I will also need to look to find other suitable, "honest" carers where things do not get stolen in my absence to support me with him so I can go back to working as I have lost a lot during the last few months. I have therefore updated the GFM target to reflect addressing the medical needs here and caring for him over the next 6 months."

 

Obviously you don't give up a (lucrative?) job in finance in order to do care work for your father far away from home, when clearly the medical costs are going to hit you. 

 

The hospitals in Thailand are Grade A level and there is no reason to go to the UK to get better care. In fact, the care would probably be worse because of the long waiting lists and the decrepit structure.

 

[newbee2022]

21 minutes ago, Lopburikid said:

I had and still have medical insurance B4,000,000 cover. I was told by the insurance company that they pay the hospital directly. After 3 days in hospital the bill was B25,000. Hospital said the insurance has refused to pay. My wife called the company and asked why? They said we have to pay first and claim it back.  we had the money to pay. so we did. put a claim in, took 3 months to get B23,000 back. We had to pay B2,000 for the service. Never trust a Thai insurance company. The sole purpose of having medical insurance is if there is a medical emergency, the funds are there to cover it.

Well, this is your experience. However, there are thousands where it was working smoothly.

[frank83628]

The father did get this ill over night, why not get him home sooner?

[PB172111]

As per usual on here, very little compassion for people’s situations.

until of course, it’s their turn to ask for help.

[Grumpy one]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

 

 

And in my view, he could have had his father removed years ago if things were looking bad, but instead they wait until 2025?

 

How has Jonathan Leo been supporting himself all these years?

 

Couldn't that money have been used to repatriate his father?

The old man's pension maybe?

[Grumpy one]

1 minute ago, PB172111 said:

As per usual on here, very little compassion for people’s situations.

until of course, it’s their turn to ask for help.

Personally, I would stay here and get treated at a public hospital.

[Nairbem]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

The British Embassy will not pay for a medical evacuation to the UK, no matter how ill he is.

 

They are dreaming, if they think they can put this on the toes of the British Embassy.

 

It's got nothing to do with the Embassy being busy with recent earthquakes in Thailand.

 

They don't do these things, it is not in the consular remit.

 

Now they might scape up a bag of oranges and some Vitamin tablets at a push.......

No tea or crumpets?

[smedly]

1 hour ago, damo1967 said:

 

Exactly... the father's insurance should cover some costs etc.  If he has no insurance, then it is plain wrong to set up a fundraiser... 100% WRONG!

Leave him where he is.  (Oh.. I just found a 1 thb coin in my pocket, and NO he aint getting it).

I'd like to know what is stopping him from getting on a plane especially if he is accompanied 

[Nairbem]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of The Standard

 

A distraught British man is fighting to bring his critically ill father back from Thailand to the UK for life-saving medical treatment. Reginald Leo, 77, once hoped to enjoy retirement in Pattaya, but a seemingly minor foot wound has escalated into a severe medical crisis.

 

Jonathan Leo, who relocated to Thailand in 2017, has sacrificed everything to look after his father, a retired security officer from Milton Keynes, now struggling with diabetes and Addison’s disease. The conditions have left Reginald bedridden, drastically underweight, and potentially facing amputation.

 

Despite Jonathan's desperate appeals for urgent medical intervention, delays from the British Embassy in Bangkok and bureaucratic obstacles linked to the recent Bangkok earthquake have thwarted efforts to secure an emergency medevac. An air ambulance back to the UK could cost between £35,000 and £55,000, an unattainable sum for the family alone.

 

 

 

Determined to help his father recover, Jonathan meticulously cares for him daily, managing his bandages and basic needs while witnessing his father’s heart-breaking deterioration. He’s also initiated a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to raise the substantial funds needed to cover the medical transports and treatments.

 

"My priority is my dad's health," says Jonathan, highlighting the urgent need for proper medical evaluations and treatments in the UK.

 

Picture of Jonathan Leo courtesy of The Standard

 

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed they are assisting and liaising with local authorities. However, the family’s plight underscores the crucial reliance on compassionate public support to expedite medical attention.

 

To aid their struggle and support Reginald’s hopeful route to recovery, donations can be made on Jonathan’s fundraising page, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

 

It appears he has enjoyed his retirement in Pattaya, and is heading to his reward, maybe the great Pattaya palace deep in the 🌎  earth's core! Who knows

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

...and you agree with #gofundme ?

 

Don't give a **** either way.

 

I have a life.

 

 

[smedly]

10 minutes ago, PB172111 said:

As per usual on here, very little compassion for people’s situations.

until of course, it’s their turn to ask for help.

he has help - his son can come take him home

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Don't give a **** either way.

 

I have a life.

 

 

You're not the one I posted to😳

[frank83628]

8 minutes ago, PB172111 said:

As per usual on here, very little compassion for people’s situations.

until of course, it’s their turn to ask for help.

These lot are a joke, bitter old men on bar stools. Always has been the same.

There was a bit of sympathy given for the lad that crash and died in samui, purely because the OP didn't mention anything about donations, if it did the sympathy wouldve be non existent 

[Baba Naba]

Just in case anyone is interested....

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

4 minutes ago, smedly said:

he has help - his son can come take him home

 

His son moved to Thailand in 2017, works in "finance."

His father moved to Pattaya last May, along with his wife, to live with the son.

Recently diagnosed with Diabetes and Addisons.

Son quit his job to act as caregiver.

[Baba Naba]

11 minutes ago, smedly said:

I'd like to know what is stopping him from getting on a plane especially if he is accompanied 

I concur. He is not hooked up to any machines so he could fly with an assistant... 

 

 

But that foot needs to be removed NOW!!!

 

[Mason45]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

come to Thailand and take him home, what is the issue ?

A guy in my condo block is going through this same situation and he told me that he traveled to Thailand to take his father back to the UK but his father refuses to go. He's dumbfound with what he can do.