3 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Coming from a country with universal healthcare, boy, are his parents going to be shocked when they see the bill.

I actually feel sorry for them.

At home its NHS and public Hospitals, unfortunately in Thailand they want to be looked after in a private Hospital with all the bell and whistles. I guess you could get good enough medical care in public hospitals, or take out a proper travel insurance. But hey, rather have some more beers and short times then paying for insurance. 

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

When will people learn

Well, he just learned from this experience !!

9 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Does the article specify that he was clubbing?

It says he was out in Bangkok.

 

A completely unprovoked vicious attack is rare in Thailand. 

No details at all on this one, unfortunately. 

 

How long have you been in Thailand? Tourists being beaten up by rabid groups of Thai men is very common  as is ending up in hospital. A friend just walking down a soi got a crash helmet smacked in his face (he was just walking home). The retired British couple set upon in the middle of the day by a group of drunk males for no real reason they ended up in hospital. For all use on here with your rose coloured glasses on: remember this, BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I! Because, next time it could be you. Thailand is not safe, its 3rd world, so always watch your surroundings and be careful!!!

20 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

Then what was he doing clubbing in Bangkok ? 

More like the poor sod received a clubbing

16 minutes ago, BritScot said:

How long have you been in Thailand? Tourists being beaten up by rabid groups of Thai men is very common  as is ending up in hospital. A friend just walking down a soi got a crash helmet smacked in his face (he was just walking home). The retired British couple set upon in the middle of the day by a group of drunk males for no real reason they ended up in hospital. For all use on here with your rose coloured glasses on: remember this, BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I! Because, next time it could be you. Thailand is not safe, its 3rd world, so always watch your surroundings and be careful!!!

Sounds like you spend most of the day hiding behind your sofa. What a load of crap.

Thailand is safer than the UK and many other '1st world' countries. 

Uh huh. This story had a "smell" to it from the first moment it was reported - in WALES. NOT in Thailand for some odd, strange, inexplicable reason.

He took a "spur of the moment" trip to Thailand. Was out clubbing in Bankok with friends. Supposedly was found "severely beaten" and taken to a hospital - in Chon Buri (not Pattaya) - almost 90 kms from where he'd supposedly been partying (around Khao San road according to one of the articles).

But now wakes up in a hospital in Pattaya somehow. Which is funny because I wanted to find out which hospital so I could go say hi and drop off some flowers but of course - they won't say the name of the hospital, will they ? 

And all of it only made the news in Wales (and ASEAN Now of course) - with GoFundMe links already set up beforehand.

Oh and the "arrest" ? Apparently only reported in  "Wales Online" as well.
"Now Ashton's grandmother Beverley Walker has told WalesOnline that Thai police have informed the family of an arrest. She said police gave no detail other than that the man is suspected of assaulting Ashton."

Now think about this. Awhile ago the Brit who supposedly was hit in Phuket by a Russian. Within HOURS of the accident, the family (in England) was claiming the police had told them the (full) names of the Russian driver and his wife, and even the type of vehicle they were driving.

But all the police will (supposedly) only tell the family of this guy is that they "arrested someone" ? Uh huh.

ALL of these stories share the SAME generic details while avoiding specific details that could be fact checked for authenticity.

And this case - guy goes out "partying" in Bangkok. Ends up in a Chonburi hospital with head injuries - and no insurance.

What does that really sound like to you ?

If you said - riding a motorcycle while drunk and not wearing a helmet - congratulations.

But you aren't going to get much sympathy - or donations - from that, are you ?

And seriously - a foreigner is "found" looking like he was severely beaten and is taken to a hospital - and it doesn't make the media ?
The same media that reports on every foreigner that gets pick-pocketed on Beach Road, or gets drunk and goes nuts in a convenience store or gets beaten by people on the street, or is busted for being on 2 days of overstay - but doesn't report on a foreigner being found unconcious and "severely beaten".

And it ONLY makes the media - in his HOME country - from a media site that PAYS people for their "vacation horror stories" ?

Yeah, the smell is strong with this one.

Lets see, there's what, 6 hospitals in Pattaya now, including gov't hospitals (Pattaya City and Banglamung) and 4 private hospitals. 

If I just knew which one he was in, I could go say hi right now !

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of South Wales Argus

 

Ashton Jones, a 29-year-old from Cwmbran, Wales, who was viciously attacked in Thailand, has woken from a coma, expressing a heartfelt wish: “I just want to go home.”

 

The father of two was assaulted by unknown assailants while out in Bangkok. Found unconscious and on life support 55 miles from where he was last seen, Ashton has been fighting for his life in a Pattaya hospital following emergency brain surgery.

 

Family friend Angela Shepherd described the ordeal as “harrowing,” explaining that Ashton got separated from his friends and was later found in intensive care. “We believe he was set upon by one or more people who left him for dead,” she told BBC Wales.

 

Ashton, who had been in Thailand for just a few days, endured surgery to address a brain bleed, with part of his skull removed to ease pressure. Despite the severity of his injuries, his father, Darren, declined a “do not resuscitate” order.

 

Angela shared that Ashton is now improving but remains in critical condition. “He’s being fed through a tube, on oxygen, and restrained due to frustration. But he’s showing signs of improvement.”

 

His family is committed to bringing him back to Wales, raising funds for medical costs due to his lack of travel insurance, and coordinating with a repatriation service.

 

Darren, who flew out to support his son, has been bolstered by local kindness, receiving help with accommodation and hospital communication.

 

A spokesperson from the British Foreign Office confirmed their involvement, stating, “We are supporting a British man hospitalised in Thailand and liaising with his family and local authorities.”

 

The Thai police investigation into the attack is ongoing, with no further details at this time. Meanwhile, Ashton’s family remains hopeful for his recovery and are determined to see him safely returned to Wales.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-01

 

 

If he fully recovers if i were him i’d stay in Thailand Cwmbran is a s******e

11 hours ago, BritScot said:

How long have you been in Thailand? Tourists being beaten up by rabid groups of Thai men is very common  as is ending up in hospital. A friend just walking down a soi got a crash helmet smacked in his face (he was just walking home). The retired British couple set upon in the middle of the day by a group of drunk males for no real reason they ended up in hospital. For all use on here with your rose coloured glasses on: remember this, BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I! Because, next time it could be you. Thailand is not safe, its 3rd world, so always watch your surroundings and be careful!!!

 

3rd world has nothing to do with anything.

There's a lot of psychos back home too and there have been a few occasions where I thought I would be attacked by thugs back home over the years for no apparent reason than being in the wrong place. 

And it really is not very common for Thais to attack farangs randomly. 

In this situation, we have no information whatsoever, so we cannot speculate at all. 

 

11 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Yeah, the smell is strong with this one.

 

So what are you suggesting?

George Soros is creating fake stories about farangs being attacked in SEA to funnel GoFundMe money into his accounts so he can sponsor more riots in LA? 

 

Good point, though. This story has virtually no information and doesn't even make sense how he ended up in a hospital in Pattaya. 

 

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

As he was found in a hospital in Chonburi

But that's not where the assault took place, do try and keep up please. 

Why doesn’t Thailand require all tourists to carry travel insurance before they get a visa. If they show up without valid travel insurance they should be required to buy a policy on the spot or go home. Enough of these deadbeats. 

9 hours ago, Monolith said:

".....due to his lack of travel insurance". This happens so often, I wish people would just take out travel insurance.

I wish Thailand would make it compulsory for all Tourists to have valid travel Insurance before entering Thailand for the full period of stay. It would save so much heartache . It should announced with all other conditions in Capital letters.
( maybe Thailand are not favorable for a reason ?)

2 hours ago, thaichiro said:

Why doesn’t Thailand require all tourists to carry travel insurance before they get a visa. If they show up without valid travel insurance they should be required to buy a policy on the spot or go home. Enough of these deadbeats. 

 

5 minutes ago, geisha said:

I wish Thailand would make it compulsory for all Tourists to have valid travel Insurance before entering Thailand for the full period of stay. It would save so much heartache . It should announced with all other conditions in Capital letters.
( maybe Thailand are not favorable for a reason ?)

Because that would mean less tourists from India and China - they want the money and dont care about the social costs.

Goes with his mates to Pattaya but has to say "Bangkok" because of his Mrs?

11 hours ago, BritScot said:

How long have you been in Thailand? Tourists being beaten up by rabid groups of Thai men is very common  as is ending up in hospital. A friend just walking down a soi got a crash helmet smacked in his face (he was just walking home). The retired British couple set upon in the middle of the day by a group of drunk males for no real reason they ended up in hospital. For all use on here with your rose coloured glasses on: remember this, BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I! Because, next time it could be you. Thailand is not safe, its 3rd world, so always watch your surroundings and be careful!!!

What a pile of tosh. Been in and out of Thailand as my base for over 30 years, yet to witness "rabid groups of Thai males beating up tourists", admittedly we probably don't frequent the same locales. "3rd World" ? Lol, in any crime survey Thailand would come out way better than your homeland. When I'm not in Asia,  I'm in London, no shortage of rabid male gangs there or in many other UK cities. Don't know how you sleep at night in such a crime ridden violent nation like Thailand. 🙄 https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp

I also get what folk say about requiring people to have travel insurance, and it might have helped here, though there are so many conflicting accounts it's hard to be sure.  However, in most of the cases we see here requiring "Go Fund Me's", travel insurance wouldn't work anyway. Take the most common cause of tourist hospitalisations that make the news, motorcycle accidents. Insurance only covers you if, 1). You have a licence or certificate that covers you to drive in your home country. 2). You're wearing a crash helmet. Sadly, the first time many of these plonkers have been on a bike is when they arrive in Thailand. Many other non motorcycle claims would fall on grounds like excessive alcohol, drug consumption  or risk taking. Travel insurance is a good thing but it's not idiot proof. 

Good to see the young man awake.

15 hours ago, Reddavy said:

If he fully recovers if i were him i’d stay in Thailand Cwmbran is a s******e

I respectfully beg to differ.

 

It’s a few years old now but the Cwmbran Tourist Association did once release an excellent video highlighting the numerous attractions of said charming town.

 

I haven’t been myself yet, saving it for my retirement bucket list.

 

 

14 hours ago, sungod said:

But that's not where the assault took place, do try and keep up please. 

You think when you get assaulted in Bangkok, they bring you to a hospital in another province?

Get real.

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

You think when you get assaulted in Bangkok, they bring you to a hospital in another province?

Get real.

What nonsense are you talking about?

 

The OP said keep away from Pattaya as its dangerous, and I pointed out the assault happened in Bangkok. 

 

You mentioned Chonburi..........

 

Do try to keep up.

11 minutes ago, sungod said:

What nonsense are you talking about?

 

The OP said keep away from Pattaya as its dangerous, and I pointed out the assault happened in Bangkok. 

 

You mentioned Chonburi..........

 

Do try to keep up.

He is in a hospital in Chonburi, read the OP: "Ashton has been fighting for his life in a Pattaya hospital following emergency brain surgery."

So I don't care what nonsense you point out.

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

He is in a hospital in Chonburi, read the OP: "Ashton has been fighting for his life in a Pattaya hospital following emergency brain surgery."

So I don't care what nonsense you point out.

Pointless replying to you anymore, you cant even remember what you are arguing about. Talking in riddles.....

7 hours ago, realfunster said:

I respectfully beg to differ.

 

It’s a few years old now but the Cwmbran Tourist Association did once release an excellent video highlighting the numerous attractions of said charming town.

 

I haven’t been myself yet, saving it for my retirement bucket list.

 

 

I’ve been. Lived there worked there. It is a dump full stop. Bucket list???? What sick bucket?

33 minutes ago, Reddavy said:

I’ve been. Lived there worked there. It is a dump full stop. Bucket list???? What sick bucket?

Cwmbran - Home of Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels

On 7/2/2025 at 8:07 AM, newbee2022 said:

Why every time the same story?

And why it happens all the time to Brits?

Of course we all wish a safe trip home as soon as possible.

No show without Punch.

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Pointless replying to you anymore, you cant even remember what you are arguing about. Talking in riddles.....

If "Ashton has been fighting for his life in a Pattaya hospital" is a riddle for you, there is no hope.

On 7/1/2025 at 7:44 PM, flaming dragon said:

what was he doing clubbing in Bangkok ? 

Why shouldn't he be doing that?

On 7/2/2025 at 5:36 AM, Anthony mellows said:

 

A spokesperson from the British Foreign Office confirmed their involvement, stating, “We are supporting a British man hospitalised in Thailand and liaising with his family and local authorities.”

 

Would love to know what that actually means.Its the goto phrase for any Brit who is in trouble, in any part of the world.

It means that specifics are none of anyone's business except his and his family's.

On 7/2/2025 at 6:31 AM, save the frogs said:

Does the article specify that he was clubbing?

It reported that they were in a nightclub but claiming that he was "clubbing" is more dramatic for the story and detrimental to his reputation.    I have been in a Bangkok "nightclub" many times but would never categorise any of those visits as "clubbing", they were just nights out.

On 7/2/2025 at 4:04 PM, BritScot said:

Tourists being beaten up by rabid groups of Thai men is very common

Cobblers.