British Hit And Run Victim Fights For Life

[sbk]

Hit-and-run man fights for life

By Heather Butler

A FYLDE coast man was today fighting for his life in a hospital in Thailand after a hit-and-run crash.

Ryan Neale is in a coma thousands of miles from home at the Pattaya Hospital in Bangkok after being flung from his moped into a lamp-post.

He suffered a fractured skull and has undergone an emergency operation to stop a bleed on the brain.

His family back home in Poulton now face an anxious wait for news while authorities in Thailand hunt for the person responsible.

The horrific accident comes as a double blow for the family after Mr Neale's grandfather Tommy Screen died last Thursday.

Resuscitated

Speaking from his home in Holts Lane, Poulton, Mr Neale's stepfather Joe Hubery said: "The last time we spoke to Ryan he was upset he

couldn't make his grandad's funeral.

"The next thing we heard was he was in hospital after a crash and had to be resuscitated at the scene.

"It's really difficult for us being so far away.

"It's been a nightmare few days."

Mum Angela, who suffers from Parkinsons Disease, added: "I wouldn't have believed we could go through so much."

Mr Neale, 23, is a former pupil of Warbreck High School (now Beacon Hill High), and a former assistant manager at Poulton's FX Gym.

He flew out to Thailand five weeks ago to work and live with his father Ronald who retired to the country.

In the early hours of last Saturday he crashed just 100 yards from home.

It is not known how he came off his moped, but it is believed he was hit by another vehicle.

A passer-by discovered Mr Neale at the side of the road and contacted the emergency services who were forced to revive him at the scene.

Desperate

He has been transferred from a local hospital to the Pattaya Hospital where he is being treated for a fractured skull, jawbone and eye socket.

He is in a critical condition, but doctors hope to bring him out of a coma in the next few days.

"It must have been quite an impact. We don't think he was wearing a helmet which

is why it's so serious," added Mr Hubery.

Mr Neale's girlfriend Nikki Amer, 22, is desperate to see him.

She said: "I want to go over there, but there's no way I can afford it. We've just got to wait here until something happens."

Mr Neale's half-brother Jason, 37, said his older brother David is due to fly to Thailand next week.

He said: "We're really worried about Ryan and there's the added worry of how dad's going to keep paying for the hospital treatment.

"David's going out to find out what's going on and what we can do to help, but we are worried Ryan wasn't insured."

Friends and family are planning a series of fundraising events to cover Mr Neale's medical costs.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed: "Mr Neale was involved in a hit and run incident in Pattaya.

"The British Embassy is in contact with Mr Neale's father to offer assistance and advice."

Last Updated: 11 April 2008 8:21 PM

Source: Blackpool Gazette

[taxexile]

sad story and i hope he recovers.

i wont mention insurance and crash helmets.

what do the hospitals here do if an uninsured patient or their family run out of money before the patient is fit to be discharged ?

[tropo]

sad story and i hope he recovers.

i wont mention insurance and crash helmets.

what do the hospitals here do if an uninsured patient or their family run out of money before the patient is fit to be discharged ?

Probably an insurance company wouldn't pay if they discovered a helmet wasn't worn.

[cali4995]

Pattaya city did set-up some kind of emergency tourist fund for people who were victims of crime

or some other action not through their own fault. So many tourists end up in hospital here without

immediate access to funds or someone to help handle their affairs. few if any of the offending

motorists have insurance and I can only imagine handling things through the embassy is a very

slow and tedious process. It's surprising he was even admitted without considerable guarantee.

[jeff_gangl]

Pattaya city did set-up some kind of emergency tourist fund for people who were victims of crime

or some other action not through their own fault. So many tourists end up in hospital here without

immediate access to funds or someone to help handle their affairs. few if any of the offending

motorists have insurance and I can only imagine handling things through the embassy is a very

slow and tedious process. It's surprising he was even admitted without considerable guarantee.

Not to add more to an already sad story...I am also very suprised they admitted him....when the money runs out, and it must be coming from somewhere, he will be moved to Banglamung Hospital...it happened to a friend of mine, after spending alot of money at the Pattaya Bkk on Sukhumvit...he was moved there due to lack of funds...he had an excellent insurance plan from the US Govt but unfortunately...it was he paid first, they paid him back later....he passed away from Cancer....under not so pleasant surroundings...

[jonniebkk]

Doesnt' the article say that his father***unfounded and insenstive accusations removed--sbk***live in Pattaya. I would suppose he is the one who put up the funds to have him admitted, or else he would have most likely gone directly to Banglamung Hospital or Chonburi Hospital.

Are not we jumping the gun here about a hit and run...the article says he was found by the side of the road. I am sure he was in no condition to give any infomation on how the accident happened. It does say he was not wearing a helmet...I would be very interested to know what the blood alcohol level tests show too.

[sbk]

jonnie, that was the Blackpool Gazette's headline

[sweetchariot]

Doesnt' the article say that his father ***unfounded and insensitive accusations removed--sbk** live in Pattaya. I would suppose he is the one who put up the funds to have him admitted, or else he would have most likely gone directly to Banglamung Hospital or Chonburi Hospital.

Are not we jumping the gun here about a hit and run...the article says he was found by the side of the road. I am sure he was in no condition to give any infomation on how the accident happened. It does say he was not wearing a helmet...I would be very interested to know what the blood alcohol level tests show too.

JonnieBKK, we have never clashed heads on this forum before, but think about the above blue comment, and in answer to the red comment, yes you are.

We have no details about the guy or his family.

The reporting is obscene (Ryan Neale is in a coma thousands of miles from home at the Pattaya Hospital in Bangkok), really have they moved BPH to Bangkok?

I also doubt the hit and run assumption, but then we are all making assumptions as we don't know the facts.

I am sure some of his family will be googling his name to search for updates, and if they do read this I am sure they will be shocked and appalled.

Get well soon Ryan, hopefully you can then tell us what happened and put an end to this slanderous speculation.

[aussiechick]

Ryans friends have told me the following:

He lost control of his bike and hit the electricity pole, the motorbike taxi guys saw it happen and called emergency services.

Ryan came here to stay with his dad (who has been here a long time) as he had broken up with his girlfriend and decided he need to have a break for a while. He was looking for work here. Ryan drinks very little by the way.

[sbk]

Unfounded and insenstive accusations regarding the deceased's family, as well as responses to those allegations, have been removed.

Let's show some sensitivity to the man's family, friends and loved ones please.

[jonniebkk]

As was easily apparent from the original screwed-up story written by some local paper back in Blighty (I was wondering when Bangkok Hospital Pattaya moved to Bangkok too) the writer was just pulling information out of his/her rear end. Instead of casting aspersions on Thailand and Thai drivers, why not just say that they kid was found in the early morning hours by the side of the road after some kind of accident and was receiving life-saving treatment at a local hospital?

In any case, the family sounds like a Greek tragedy to me...grandpa kicks off a week ago, "mum" suffers from Parkinson's disease, and son cracks-up on a road in Pattaya thousands of miles away from home.

Now, if we are to believe one poster who claims personal knowledge of the acidentee, the kid may have just lost control of his moto and smacked into the poll all on his own (without being HIT AND RUN on by anyone) and one of the usually maligned local moto-taxi guys comes to his aid and call for help.

[jonniebkk]

JonnieBKK, we have never clashed heads on this forum before, but think about the above blue comment, and in answer to the red comment, yes you are.

We have no details about the guy or his family.

Not really quite sure what you are referring to or about but in any case, are you kidding me. We all know why middle-aged farang guys end up in Pattaya (of all the stinking towns and gin-joints in the WORLD)...gimme a break. No reason to sugarcoat it. As to the kid, there is NO REASON for a 23 year old kid to be moving to Patters "to find work" and "be with his father" either. We all know what he was doing here...having a great time chasing the ladies. Nothing wrong with that...but apparently one is not allowed to say so publicly as it might shock the tender consciences of family back home.

In any case, likely he just had an accident (maybe hit one of our crater sized potholes) in the dark of nite and lost control of the moto. Tragedy to be sure and he's lucky that the locals came to his aid and he's in a place that has first-class medical facilities.

Edited April 15, 2008 by jonniebkk

[marshbags]

Unfounded and insenstive accusations regarding the deceased's family, as well as responses to those allegations, have been removed.

Let's show some sensitivity to the man's family, friends and loved ones please.

Is the poor soul deceased as i cannot see any updates after his initial injuries, which are serious in any case and could be life threatening.

Not a critical post by the way, but out of concern on the present situation.

marshbags

Could this be a reference to his grandad as referred to in the O.P. ?????

Edited April 15, 2008 by marshbags

[chanman]

JonnieBKK, we have never clashed heads on this forum before, but think about the above blue comment, and in answer to the red comment, yes you are.

We have no details about the guy or his family.

Not really quite sure what you are referring to or about but in any case, are you kidding me. We all know why middle-aged farang guys end up in Pattaya (of all the stinking towns and gin-joints in the WORLD)...gimme a break. No reason to sugarcoat it. As to the kid, there is NO REASON for a 23 year old kid to be moving to Patters "to find work" and "be with his father" either. We all know what he was doing here...having a great time chasing the ladies. Nothing wrong with that...but apparently one is not allowed to say so publicly as it might shock the tender consciences of family back home.

In any case, likely he just had an accident (maybe hit one of our crater sized potholes) in the dark of nite and lost control of the moto. Tragedy to be sure and he's lucky that the locals came to his aid and he's in a place that has first-class medical facilities.

If everyone knows it why do you feel the need to shout about it publicly?

[jonniebkk]

If everyone knows it why do you feel the need to shout about it publicly?

Apparently we are supposed to beleive (per the moderator) that people in Farangland check this site for information when their relatives crack-up in Thailand so I want to make sure they, and the reporter, have the correct information.

[chanman]

If everyone knows it why do you feel the need to shout about it publicly?

Apparently we are supposed to beleive (per the moderator) that people in Farangland check this site for information when their relatives crack-up in Thailand so I want to make sure they, and the reporter, have the correct information.

Lame.... so you were not speculating or generalising but quoting facts? Sad when you cam smile at others misfortune

[BillyCostigan]

Apparently we are supposed to beleive (per the moderator) that people in Farangland check this site for information when their relatives crack-up in Thailand so I want to make sure they, and the reporter, have the correct information.

What are you ment to meen by the comment ''Farangland''

And please tell me why you keep refering to him as ''Crack-up''

Has he cracked up?

Do you know him?

No you dont, so shut the fuc_k up.

And to the one who asked was he deceased, the answer is no.

He is still in Pattaya

[sbk]

Unfounded and insenstive accusations regarding the deceased's family, as well as responses to those allegations, have been removed.

Let's show some sensitivity to the man's family, friends and loved ones please.

Is the poor soul deceased as i cannot see any updates after his initial injuries, which are serious in any case and could be life threatening.

Not a critical post by the way, but out of concern on the present situation.

marshbags

Could this be a reference to his grandad as referred to in the O.P. ?????

Sorry, you are right, marshbags, my typo.

jonniebkk, just curious if you've every googled this young mans name with thailand or pattaya? Thai Visa comes out at the top of the list. So, yes, as has been the case in many previous threads regarding expats or tourists in terrible accidents, the relatives do come and read ThaiVisa.

As for my mistake, I was in a hurry and mistyped, please accept my apologies.

[Scott]

My thoughts are with the family and friends of this young man and I hope for a speedy and complete recovery. He sounds like a nice young man and it was nice of him to come to Thailand to visit his father. Unfortunately some of the posters are this site are not nice people.

[roomark]

Right lets get down to business....There are some very clever people on here who(as I know with experience of my time living in Thai) seem to know everything and everyone in Thailand.First of all I am back in England and am checking the internet(I dont need to as I am in contact all the time about Ryan)but im curious of the net-coverage...and lo and behold this website appears on google..So KHUN BKK or whatevor you wanna call yourself that puts pay to your little outburst.First of all I was with Ryan all night the night he had his accident I wasnt there I left him at 3am in the morning and I curse the day I decided to leave.And before you all start he is a fitness fanatic and wasnt drunk OK!!Im from the same town as Ryan and know him from the local gym he was the Manager at,I didnt know he was in Thai and met him one day in the newly opened California WOW in Pattaya we had a laugh about England exchanged numbers and he called me on the Friday 4th to meet him after he played pool for his local Pattaya team NICKYS BAR.He was a very sensible kid we left there at 10.30pm and went to Walking Street I got a lift with him on his bike and we were BOTH WEARING HELMETS,as im sure you ALL know its the LAW to wear them you dont need problems with the boys in brown!! which puts pay to the Blackpool Gazzetes unfounded story of no helmets!!From there we went to various places all the time he's asking me advice on his girl back home in England and all you NON BELIEVERS wasnt interested in the bargirls at all.I left him at 3am tired from the night before.Next day I tried to call him 3 times at 6pm I received the news....YOU ALL KNOW(OR IN SOME CASES THINK YOU DO)THE REST..I went to see Ryan in The BKK Pattaya HOSPITAL.The poor kid is asleep lying there with his injuries a handsome kid sleeping waiting for his return he moved a couple times after we spoke to him HOPE for the future.This kid deserves it.During my time living and visiting Thailand I have come accross many walks of life scumbags,bad people good people,Ryan is NOT one of them,for the ladies he didnt need to be there,it was a holiday NOTHING more.Now I have regrets What if I hadnt met him,would he have gone out?I cant stop thinking of that poor kid.GET BETTER SOON MY FRIEND GOD AND BUDDHA BLESS YOU.So to all you who cast the first stone EVERYONE IN PATTAYA AND THAILAND IS NOT THE SAME REMEMBER THAT.I