1 hour ago, Celsius said:

 

What if she paid you to be touched?

Depends on the amount....for the right sum she can be hansum. Look at the old Murdoch.

 

Typical misery happened to old foreign man in this kingdom.

2 hours ago, malt25 said:

The Australian embassy might contact his family. Nothing more. They won't create a precedent.

I think thats true

 

I think there is this myth, that any embassy will bail you out and get you home for free, not true none of them will, don't expect your home country taxpayers to bail you out.

 

On then Aussie pension thing, I have no idea, but if he how on earth was he making the visa extension work?

He'd be in immigration detention for not having the money

14 hours ago, Nemises said:

 

Always have health insurance.

 

Rent never buy.

It is likely that he  can not qualify for health insurance. 

He reportedly sold his home in Bangkok.

Your finger wagging is not  helpful.

15 hours ago, Nemises said:

 

Always have health insurance.

 

Rent never buy.

Depends on circumstances. I bought my house 13 years ago for 4.9 million. Rent at approx 25k per month, I would have paid 3.9 million. Now I have a house that my wife will benefit from when I am gone and it's now worth 8 or 9 million. Doesn't always make sense to rent.

20 hours ago, Nemises said:

Always have health insurance.

 

At his age?

6 hours ago, jimn said:

Depends on circumstances. I bought my house 13 years ago for 4.9 million. Rent at approx 25k per month, I would have paid 3.9 million. Now I have a house that my wife will benefit from when I am gone and it's now worth 8 or 9 million. Doesn't always make sense to rent.

Is the Aussie embassy aware of the issue ? If so are they doing anything to bring this chap back home ? If not, then why not ? 

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

At his age?

ChatGPT :

 

 

Is health insurance available for 75 year old expats living in Thailand?

 

 

“Yes, it is possible for a 75-year-old expat living in Thailand to obtain health insurance—but with some important caveats around availability, premiums, and coverage terms.

 

 

 

 

Availability & Age Limits

 

 

• Some insurers accept new applicants up to age 75, with renewals allowed well into the 80s or even 90s, depending on the provider. For instance, certain plans accept applications up to 80 years old and can be renewed up to age 90.
• International insurers like Cigna Global offer senior plans without age limits, meaning you can apply at any age and continue renewing.”

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of CH7 news

 

UDON THANI - A 75-year-old Australian man is stranded in Thailand, desperate to return to his homeland after a string of misfortunes. After a severe accident left him amputated, his funds dwindled when his Thai wife succumbed to drug addiction. With just 1,520 Thai baht remaining, he’s appealing for help to get back to Australia.

 

In Udon Thani’s Ban Dung district, local chief Boontom Sorumpa reported the dire situation of Marcus Own, an Australian pensioner marooned after misplacing trust in his wife, leading to financial ruin. Once a millionaire, Marcus entrusted his wife with his retirement money after selling a townhouse in Bangkok for over 4 million Thai baht. Now, with his wife undergoing drug rehabilitation, he faces life alone in a squalid, neglected home.

 

Marcus’s tragic tale began eight months ago when he suffered a car accident, resulting in the amputation of his left leg. He moved to Ban Dong Dara with his wife, Phikun, 45, but encountered further woes as her methamphetamine addiction spiralled. The couple, who travelled frequently between Thailand and Australia during happier times, now find their lives shattered as Phikun battles her addiction.

 

In a heart-wrenching interview, Marcus shared his desire to return to his family in Australia, where he hopes to live out his remaining days. He struggles without support in a once-grand Spanish-style home, now only a shadow of its former self. Confronted with the wreckage of his life, he pleads with authorities and the local community to assist his journey back home.

 

Village chief Boontom reported witnessing Phikun in distress, exhibiting erratic behaviour prior to his admission to rehab. The local community has shown compassion by providing Marcus with meals, but his plight remains dire. Meanwhile, law enforcement plans to escort him to the Australian consulate, aiming to secure his passage home, reported CH7 news.

 

Marcus’s story has touched many in Ban Dong Dara, a poignant reminder of how quickly fortunes can change. His aged mother-in-law, Tting, acknowledges her daughter’s struggles with addiction but remains uncertain about her ability to care for her husband.

 

The unfolding situation underscores the complex challenges faced by Marcus and demonstrates the importance of taking swift action to reunite him with loved ones in Australia. The Australian embassy’s response will be crucial, as coordinated efforts proceed to ensure Marcus Own can safely return to his homeland.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CH7 news 2025-08-13

 

Never give access to all your money to a woman, thai or otherwise.

8 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I think thats true

 

I think there is this myth, that any embassy will bail you out and get you home for free, not true none of them will, don't expect your home country taxpayers to bail you out.

 

On then Aussie pension thing, I have no idea, but if he how on earth was he making the visa extension work?

He'd be in immigration detention for not having the money

Maybe he could scrape B20000 or so to use an agent to get his Visa.

13 hours ago, gearbox said:

How easy do you think is to get public housing in Australia? I'm in Sydney now and I see quite a few old folks sleeping rough outside in winter. Why would the government give him a priority over the people who are already here? 

Have you not heard of rest homes? 

16 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I kinda thought the same.

 

A one way ticket to Australia can't cost that much.

 

It also states he wants to return to family

 

I would of thought 'if' they wanted him to return to them, they would have rustled up the cash for a ticket

 

I agree but the questions then come as to

 

Do the family he has there like him  , or has he become estranged

Does anyone in his family want the responsibility of looking after him (financially and physically

Where in OZ does he want to go, and do they have the facilities to look after an old, destitute 1 one-legged man

 

There has been no mention of overstay, so based on that and that fact, he has some financial resources.

 

I agree with other posts in that OH BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD IT IS NOT ME 

 

Just wondering if he has his visa renewed and everything, is it not possible for him to find better accommodtions with someone to look after him here rather than in OZ. 

 

Just thinking out loud, but it may be cheaper for the OZ government to look after him here than it would be in OZ financially.  

 

NO MATTER WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS ARTICLE FOLLOWED UP

https://www.khaosod.co.th/around-thailand/news_9892248

 

Here is the follow-up up 

 

Thank god for friendly Thais

 

 

On 8/13/2025 at 8:33 AM, Nemises said:

 

Always have health insurance.

 

Rent never buy.

And most of the insurance agencies in Thailand don't pay out or find some lope hole to prevent paying up 

59 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

https://www.khaosod.co.th/around-thailand/news_9892248

 

Here is the follow-up up 

 

Thank god for friendly Thais

So a private Thai citizen, not even in TH, had to step up and help.   That's embarrassing to everyone else:  AU Embassy/govt, local community Aussies, and all you kind hearted people that hypocritically troll us cold hearted bastards 

 

18 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Then how would he be able to renew his visa.  There is no visa that doesnot mean you have to thave money

You don't need a pension to get renewals of permit to stay if you're using the money in the bank method. 

 

I only get a very small UK pension (due to not having made enough NI contributions) and it's not nearly enough to meet the financial requirements for an extension.

 

So I just keep a lump sum in the bank and my small monthly pension payments play no part in my yearly extensions here.

Yes while i have sympathy for the guys circumstances 

He is not the first or will be the last person to get conned out of his wealth here in Thailand 

Still wish him well 😔 

2 hours ago, Ginner said:

And most of the insurance agencies in Thailand don't pay out or find some lope hole to prevent paying up 

 

"And most insurance agencies worldwide  will try to find some loop hole to prevent paying up"

 

There, all fixed! 

On 8/13/2025 at 8:28 AM, webfact said:

Marcus entrusted his wife with his retirement money

 

Feel bad for him, but just one more example of trusting your Thai spouse 100%, and most importantly, not having a backup plan if it all goes pear shaped........which it did in his case.

I've been with my Thai spouse for over 30 years and trust her--there's never been any hiccups, but I have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. My backup plan is sitting in a foreign investment account earning interest we live on, her backup plan is the house in Thailand and money she has in a Thai bank.

 

And before anyone says it, I know YOUR Thai spouse is "perfect" and "she would never do anything like this to me".........good luck for you if that's the case.

Poor guy.  His family needs to come to Udorn and take him back home.  

10 hours ago, Suetape said:

Poor guy.  His family needs to come to Udorn and take him back home.  

Families are complicated.

 

I suspect he's estranged from them, you'd think if a family member having their leg amputated someone would fly out to be with you.

 

I'm about to have some back surgery next month, all my kids are coming up to take turns to be with me, which I think is the natural way it should be

 

So this guy must have a strange relationship with his family, depending how close they are

From what I read this morning, all the villagers helped this poor man. Immigration have taken him to a resort for the night and will accompany him on the beginning of his journey home. I thank all the villagers, he was obviously a good man. They have shown compassion. 
All the man’s family who are involved in drugs are going to a rehabilitation center. Drugs ruin so many .

"In a heart-wrenching interview, Marcus shared his desire to return to his family in Australia, where he hopes to live out his remaining days."

Can't be much of a family if they cannot help him with the fare!

"Pensioner" - what does that imply?  

 

My understanding of a pensioner is someone who receives a pension. 

 

Did his pension stop?

 

 

If Marcus was a millionaire prior to losing all his savings, he would not have been getting the Australian age pension. For a single home-owner, the asset limit is $704,000.

 

He also would have to be in Australia to claim the age pension when he became eligible for it, or wait two years there if he was not.

 

The thread is based on the premise he is a pensioner. I am not sure he is.

 

The full age pension is about 25,000 baht a fortnight. That's more than enough for an airfare home.

and this weeks Pulitzer Prize goes to the usual suspects for their outstanding contribution to journalism for their fastidious work on " After a severe accident left him "AMPUTATED" - Hope the guy gets his wish and gets home safe, 

On 8/13/2025 at 8:44 AM, save the frogs said:

 

Yes, everyone should stop getting into relationships and start families and just sleep with hookers. 

 

How did he let his wife spiral into drug addiction though? You would know if your wife is taking meth and intervene at some point? Sad stuff. 

 

Sometimes, people are a bit delusional and blind when it comes to loved ones addictions... I remember a co-worker/friend tell me about loaning his friend $10K because his friend got into trouble with gambling (naive)  and I told him straight up that he would very likely never get his money back... it was not long before I heard an update of the story where he continued getting into trouble and his wife who bailed him out by putting their house at risk, was financially set back - wife left him... and he ghosted the friend.  Being blind can lead to basically enabling people with addictions. 

On 8/13/2025 at 12:17 PM, Rooo said:

Sorry, but how would you now if he receives a pension? Assuming because he is 75 that he does is not necessarily ccorect. Depending how long he has een in Thailand and when he turned retirement age. Australia has a proviso that you must have lived in Australia for pension portability or 2 years in Australia when you apply for portability. Reading between the lines , he was living off his assets.

 

Agree completely, and further to this there is an asset test in Australia, before you can get a pension, so if he had a lot of money and assets before he left Australia he would not have been be elligible for a pension. ( My brother is in this situation living here in OZ and no pension) And as this gentelman is not in Australia currently he cannot claim for a pension.