Report Welshman Fights for Life in Pattaya Hospital After Vanishing from Bangkok Nightclub

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, nick supreme said:

Heathcare is a human right. 

And he's getting it.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, thailand49 said:

That is true but from past reading drinking clubbing I sure they would have found a way to denied the claim.

I've not heard one story where a person had one actually got paid?

So much cobblers.  Contravene policy conditions and claims will, obviously and justifiably, be denied.   The vast majority of travel insurance claims are successfully paid out by insurers just do some simple research.  That you have not had one case reported to you is irrelevant.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

He was only holidaying in Thailand for one week. Visa exemption irreverent 

"Irreverent"?  VE are, by definition, reverent and respectful.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

Thoroughly check the policy. Most insurance companies have "existing health conditions" tucked away in the policy. 

Nonsense, those policy conditions are not "tucked away", they are made very clear. 

[What to do now]

I never travel to Thailand without travel insurance . I got food poisoning when I was in Phuket, was seriously sick for week. 

 Secondly I suspect there is much more to this story than what's being told. Was wasn't this man's friends keeping track of him? He just disappeared and ended upvl a half country away? ;-/

[norsurin]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

So much cobblers.  Contravene policy conditions and claims will, obviously and justifiably, be denied.   The vast majority of travel insurance claims are successfully paid out by insurers just do some simple research.  That you have not had one case reported to you is irrelevant.

Rigth As long as not drunk driving and doing activities that ur not supposed to that break the policy.

When i get sick the hospital called my insurance and get a garantee for payment so i didn't have to pay myself first and after claiming them.

[norsurin]

46 minutes ago, What to do now said:

I never travel to Thailand without travel insurance . I got food poisoning when I was in Phuket, was seriously sick for week. 

 Secondly I suspect there is much more to this story than what's being told. Was wasn't this man's friends keeping track of him? He just disappeared and ended upvl a half country away? ;-/

I agree.Strange story.

[Russel]

7 hours ago, ronster said:

Why don't the Thai government introduce an insurance run by them that all visitors staying in the country must buy before entering the country. It either covers a certain percentage of medical costs or all.

It would save them having to see these types of cases constantly and negatively appearing in media scaring off tourists.

Because Thailand would be the only country in the world to introduce such a measure Health insurance should remain an optional

[FarmerJoe]

7 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I just renewed my annual worldwide travel insurance with AIG. 3,838 baht pa. Includes repatriation in case of accident. Higher plans available with the top one circa 10k baht.

 

i mean, it’s very affordable 

AIG gets a 1 star rating from almost every review site including consumer affairs and trust pilot.

[Jonathan Swift]

10 hours ago, chuang said:

Travel with GoFundMe in mind, no insurance needed 

I don't think there is any forethought of any sort including go fund me. 

[Jonathan Swift]

All the finger wagging about travel insurance aside, why invite trouble by carousing to the point of stupid drunkenness in places like Pattaya? Yes, I know, young people will do this, situations like this are tragic in the end, I wish people understood the real risks of such careless behavior. he should at least have had friends watching over him. 

[SanSaiExPat]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Wales News Service

 

A Welshman lies in critical condition on life support in a Pattaya hospital after undergoing emergency brain surgery following a night out in Thailand.

 

Ashton Jones, 29, vanished from a Bangkok nightclub, only to be later found in a hospital far away from the Thai capital, facing life-threatening injuries. His family is left devastated, suspecting a possible attack during his night out.

 

Jones travelled to Thailand impulsively with a friend, intending to enjoy a carefree week of fun. The trip took a grim turn when he failed to return from the nightclub, leading friends to search frantically. They eventually discovered him in Chon Buri Hospital, unconscious and undergoing surgery.

 

His cousin Sophie, 26, expressed the family's distress, highlighting the language barriers hampering communication with hospital staff.

 

The lack of travel insurance has compounded issues, with the family now desperately seeking to raise £50,000 (around 2.2 million baht) to cover medical expenses and secure his return to the UK.

 

Jones' grandmother, Beverly Walker, voiced her grave concerns over his survival without urgent financial aid. Doctors attempted to revive Ashton, successfully bringing him round, though he remains bedbound, suffering from fits and unable to communicate or eat.

 

His family are overwhelmed with worry, further strained by their depleted savings and continuous mounting hospital costs.

 

A GoFundMe campaign has gathered only £3,500 (approximately 155,000 baht), a mere fraction of the funds needed to repatriate Ashton.

 

The family's plea for help remains urgent as his condition worsens amidst the mounting costs.

 

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed their support, maintaining contact with Thai authorities as the family clings to hope for Ashton's return home.

 

Picture of Ashton Jones courtesy of Wales News Service

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-12

 

 

His injuries, on the surface of it, look more like a head injury from a possible motorcycle accident.

[pattaya klang]

Another idiot with no insurance and his family expect others to pay. If you own houses remortgage or sell them.

[kevozman1]

Sadly it's hard to know if this is legit or not. Very vague story, not much evidence, gofundme link.. Sketchy.

[Greenhill]

Poor reporting again from Aseannow?  

 

He can't be in Chon Buri Hospital, which is in Muang Chon Buri & also in a Pattaya hospital??

 

I suspect it's Chon Buri Hospital but clarity might be appropriate.

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, Greenhill said:

Poor reporting again from Aseannow?  

 

He can't be in Chon Buri Hospital, which is in Muang Chon Buri & also in a Pattaya hospital??

 

I suspect it's Chon Buri Hospital but clarity might be appropriate.

 

Agreed...      Chon-Buri Hospital is about 85km from Bangkok and 60 km from Pattaya - so he may have got over half way before something went wrong...   

 

 

43 minutes ago, SanSaiExPat said:

His injuries, on the surface of it, look more like a head injury from a possible motorcycle accident.

 

My thoughts too - I'm wondering if in a moment of madness he decided to ride to Pattaya and didn't quite make it... 

 

Certainly his close friends and family will want to know what happened..     its a very odd story.

 

 

 

 

 

[Baba Naba]

How about a little more information about the criminal investigation? Is there one??? 🤔🙄

[richard_smith237]

22 minutes ago, Baba Naba said:

How about a little more information about the criminal investigation? Is there one??? 🤔🙄

 

What crime / criminals ???

[RJRS1301]

16 hours ago, RAZZELL said:

You can buy health/travel insurance in about 2 mins online.

 

Sorry about the accident but sometimes you have to take responsibility for your own actions.

Frequently though travel insurance will not pay out if alcohol is involved in the incident leading to the claim 

 

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

I am not against this guy getting some help through GoFundMe. I hope he comes around okay and gets home safely. But I am beginning to think that Thailand needs a special Visa for British that enforces some sort of health care requirement on them, especially the younger ones who seem to be the ones most likely to get into these situations.

Oz kids do this too. 

Thailand often mentions some incoming tourist charge that will go towards medical insurance, perhaps it can ultimately be tied in with the TDAC now it has been implemented. 

[Jim Blue]

8 hours ago, kevozman1 said:

Sadly it's hard to know if this is legit or not. Very vague story, not much evidence, gofundme link.. Sketchy.

It would be helpful if a  a Thai official is quoted ....otherwise  we will never know for sure what happened .

[kiwikeith]

15 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Maybe in a taxi and he didn't pay. So the brawl started 🙏

Drugged would be my first choice Dr Watson 

[kiwikeith]

12 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Nonsense, non-excessive consumption of alcohol does not automatically void travel insurance policies

He may not have been a drinker, you don't have to drink at a club,. Maybe just soda 

[Ralf001]

16 hours ago, norsurin said:

Sorry for that story but if they travel to another country it should be mandatory travelincuranse.

But Thailand don't require that in case they loose some tourists.The happy ones is the hospital's who get their money.I pay 200£ a year for my insurance and im covered from the second i leave my house.

A shorter insurance is much cheaper..so i really don't understand the mindset of these tourists.

 

does travel insurance cover the bills if the person is inured whilst pissed up ?

[mikebell]

20 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Thai taxpayer but the body will go to the cheapest charitable cremation foundation.

Have you got an address for one in Nong Prue?

[jacko45k]

40 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Drugged would be my first choice Dr Watson 

A possible part of the story but considering the surgery I would say trauma to the head too. 

[newbee2022]

41 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Drugged would be my first choice Dr Watson 

Check it out Holmes

[wensiensheng]

18 hours ago, ryandb said:

Damn that's good do you need to apply while in your home country? I pay $40 a month, not needed it but been meaning to drop into the bank for a few months now to see if I can get a better local one

I applied via AA insurance brokers while seated at my house in Phuket. Took less than an hour to swap e mails, send them copies of my passport and receive the policy certificate in my inbox.

 

i believe AA insurance have several offices throughout the country. I originally contacted them via a recommendation on here.

[wensiensheng]

11 hours ago, FarmerJoe said:

AIG gets a 1 star rating from almost every review site including consumer affairs and trust pilot.

Never had a problem with them. Never needed to make a claim though 😂

[Briggsy]

30 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Have you got an address for one in Nong Prue?

Sawang Boriboon can arrange it.

 

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111 Moo 5 and 13 Moo 6, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chonburi.