'Spider bite' to dead backpacker

Daniel Salmon was nearing the end of a trip to south-east Asia when he died

A Sussex backpacker behaved strangely and eventually collapsed and died in Thailand after reporting a spider bite, an inquest has heard. Daniel Salmon, 32, of Lancing, was detained on the island of Koh Samui because police thought he was "insane".

He became ill in custody and died on the way to hospital on 14 April 2007.

The Worthing inquest was told he had apparently suffered a bite three weeks earlier in Laos. A verdict of natural causes was returned.

Mr Salmon, a technician, spent nine months travelling around Australia in 2006 and was nearing the end of a two-month trip around South East Asia when he died, the inquest was told.

His mother Maureen told the inquest her son's arm had swelled up as far as the elbow after the bite.

He died doing what he wanted to do

Ron Salmon, fatherHe was given anti-toxin treatment, but could not be prescribed an anti-venom as he could not identify the spider.

She said he had appeared confused and slurred his speech during phone conversations home and she became so alarmed that she offered to fly to South East Asia.

Mrs Salmon said he told her, "Don't worry Mum, I'll be fine".

She told the inquest jury he had taken large amounts of money from cash machines on the island of Koh Samui which she thought was strange because of the low cost of living.

A Bangkok post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Salmon died of failure of respiratory and blood circulation systems, but forensic pathologist Dr Mark Appleton said this was not a conclusive cause of death.

He said sections of the report, which he received in August 2008, appeared to contradictory. He suspected this happened when it was translated into English.

Dr Appleton added: "Unfortunately it's not really possible to come to a conclusion as to what the cause of death might have been."

'Conflicting reports'

Thai police reports said Mr Salmon was taken into custody by police on the island of Koh Samui after they found him acting strangely.

They said he "looked insane and couldn't control himself. He looked as if he had an unsound mind."

After he was taken to a male detention room he turned on a tap and played with the water, before he was sick and became unconscious.

He later died on the way to hospital.

Mrs Salmon said the Thai authorities had not acknowledged the bite.

Mr Salmon's father Ron, 67, said: "He died doing what he wanted to do."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...sex/8062446.stm

Do you have a link or source for this article?

sorry, too late.

Do you have a link or source for this article?

Taken from BBC website this morning

Regards Bojo

'Spider bite' to dead backpacker

Daniel Salmon was nearing the end of a trip to south-east Asia when he died

A Sussex backpacker behaved strangely and eventually collapsed and died in Thailand after reporting a spider bite, an inquest has heard. Daniel Salmon, 32, of Lancing, was detained on the island of Koh Samui because police thought he was "insane".

He became ill in custody and died on the way to hospital on 14 April 2007.

The Worthing inquest was told he had apparently suffered a bite three weeks earlier in Laos. A verdict of natural causes was returned.

Mr Salmon, a technician, spent nine months travelling around Australia in 2006 and was nearing the end of a two-month trip around South East Asia when he died, the inquest was told.

His mother Maureen told the inquest her son's arm had swelled up as far as the elbow after the bite.

He died doing what he wanted to do

Ron Salmon, fatherHe was given anti-toxin treatment, but could not be prescribed an anti-venom as he could not identify the spider.

She said he had appeared confused and slurred his speech during phone conversations home and she became so alarmed that she offered to fly to South East Asia.

Mrs Salmon said he told her, "Don't worry Mum, I'll be fine".

She told the inquest jury he had taken large amounts of money from cash machines on the island of Koh Samui which she thought was strange because of the low cost of living.

A Bangkok post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Salmon died of failure of respiratory and blood circulation systems, but forensic pathologist Dr Mark Appleton said this was not a conclusive cause of death.

He said sections of the report, which he received in August 2008, appeared to contradictory. He suspected this happened when it was translated into English.

Dr Appleton added: "Unfortunately it's not really possible to come to a conclusion as to what the cause of death might have been."

'Conflicting reports'

Thai police reports said Mr Salmon was taken into custody by police on the island of Koh Samui after they found him acting strangely.

They said he "looked insane and couldn't control himself. He looked as if he had an unsound mind."

After he was taken to a male detention room he turned on a tap and played with the water, before he was sick and became unconscious.

He later died on the way to hospital.

Mrs Salmon said the Thai authorities had not acknowledged the bite.

Mr Salmon's father Ron, 67, said: "He died doing what he wanted to do."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...sex/8062446.stm

I didn't think that the spiders in Thailand were seriously venomous? Scorpions yes. Am I wrong?

She told the inquest jury he had taken large amounts of money from cash machines on the island of Koh Samui which she thought was strange because of the low cost of living.

It says he got bitten in Laos. Any venomous spiders there? I don't think he was eating them but you never know.

everything is dangerous for people allergic, a simple peanut can kill someone.

Despite that there are a number of (mildly) poisonous spiders around,

first the 3 weeks time frame, way too long!

Allergic, allergic reactions usually set in right after contact, ingestion!

This story doesn't go down well, cover up,

seems more like he was high on something,

overdosed!

died from spider venom after... "he had apparently suffered a bite three weeks earlier in Laos" ?

i really doubt that claim..

.

"he had taken large amounts of money from cash machines on the island of Koh Samui which she thought was strange because of the low cost of living"

and..

They said he "looked insane and couldn't control himself. He looked as if he had an unsound mind."

tends to make me think he'd been purchasing & ingesting certain 'party toxins'

I don't understand why this story is coming out 2 years after he died. Is it that the inquest just happened? Why would that be done 2 years late?

She told the inquest jury he had taken large amounts of money from cash machines on the island of Koh Samui which she thought was strange because of the low cost of living.

It may be a lower cost of living but that goes right out the window when your steaming drunk going round all the bars/nightclubs

Price of drinks in Samui isnt a million miles from UK prices cause of the exchange rate..

the cashpoint always takes a hammering when i am on a night out !

Same as with the PhiPhi deaths, is it not possible for authorities of other countries to request an independent autopsy? It has been proven many times that the result of Thai autopsies cannot be trusted (except Dr. Pornthip's maybe). Cover up and hush hush burn the victims, sweep the ashes under the carpet.

Thai police reports said Mr Salmon was taken into custody by police on the island of Koh Samui after they found him acting strangely.

God, the jails must be full with "acting strangely" being a reason for detention.

They said he "looked insane and couldn't control himself. He looked as if he had an unsound mind."

Sure wish there were more here. Caucasians with dreadlocks look insane to me. "Couldn't control himself," means something to do with bladder accidents?

After he was taken to a male detention room he turned on a tap and played with the water, before he was sick and became unconscious.

I'd like to know what "play with the water" actually means.

And this is a bit late coming out, isn't it? Is something rotten in Denmark?

Same as with the PhiPhi deaths, is it not possible for authorities of other countries to request an independent autopsy? It has been proven many times that the result of Thai autopsies cannot be trusted (except Dr. Pornthip's maybe). Cover up and hush hush burn the victims, sweep the ashes under the carpet.

Its all farcical from beginning to end imho.

Don't know about "spider bite"

Sounds more like he'd been on the "bumble bees"

RAZZ

RIP. For closeur hope the power that be can do the proper test and make the correct call for the sake of his family.