Briton Dies From Injuries

[sriracha john]

Bob Ward died of serious head injuries nine months after a horrific motorcycle crash in Thailand, an inquest ruled on Thursday.

Mr Ward (49) was left in a coma when he was knocked off his bike by another motorcyclist in March last year and was stranded on the paradise island of Koh Samui for nearly seven months because he did not have medical insurance.

He was finally flown home to Ashfield after a massive fundraising campaign by his friends, family and big-hearted local residents — while his pals from the holiday island's diving community also raised cash.

But doctors at King's Mill Hospital warned the family the outlook was grim and two months later, in December, Mr Ward died in a specialist head injuries unit at Worksop having never regained consciousness.

Coroner Dr Nigel Chapman recorded a verdict that Mr Ward's death was accidental and after Thursday's inquest his family said it had been a great consolation that they had been able to bring him home.

Wife Pauline (41), of Barnes Crescent, Sutton, told Chad: "We got him back home so we all got to spend time with him, that's all that mattered. We want to thank everyone who helped. We have got £1,300 left from the fundraising events which we are going to give to Fountaindale School to go towards a sensory room.

"They also have some money left on the island, which they are going to put into another fund in case something like this happens again."

The family also revealed they have been forced to scrap plans to trace the French tourist who caused the head-on crash after solicitors warned them it would cost them thousands of pounds.

The young holidaymaker, who escaped with a broken wrist, was arrested by Thai police and admitted causing injury by careless driving. He apologised for what had happened and paid £6,000 for Mr Ward's medical care in a private hospital —but was then given his passport back and sent home under the impression that Mr Ward was on the mend.

The Ashfield family are also upset that they have been unable to recover any of Mr Ward's belongings and say the Foreign Office has not been able to find if the former RAF engineer had any bank accounts out in Thailand.

"All we got back was a box of clothes that he was wearing during the accident," said Mrs Ward.

His daughter Emma Severn (24), of Sherwood Road, Sutton, told Chad they are particularly upset that some of Mr Ward's jewellery appears to have gone missing.

"He had a St. Christopher, a signet ring and diving watch," she said. "He never took them off, but the hospital in Thailand says he wasn't wearing them at the time of the accident, which we just don't believe."

Mr Ward's ashes have been scattered at Mablethorpe, a resort the family often used to visit on holiday, while some have been retained by daughter Mrs Severn so she can go to Koh Samui and scatter the rest of them on the idyllic island.

"He loved Thailand," she said. "He just loved life. We all miss him so much."

Mr Ward was born and raised in Huthwaite and joined the RAF as an engineer before working for British Aerospace in Saudi Arabia. During the first Gulf War he was re-drafted by the RAF and received a medal for his service.

He moved to Koh Samui in 1998 after falling in love with the dream island and became a partner in a diving school which took tourists scuba diving.

03 August 2005

[WhiteShiva]

His daughter Emma Severn (24), of Sherwood Road, Sutton, told Chad they are particularly upset that some of Mr Ward's jewellery appears to have gone missing.

"He had a St. Christopher, a signet ring and diving watch," she said. "He never took them off, but the hospital in Thailand says he wasn't wearing them at the time of the accident, which we just don't believe."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh, I am pretty sure he was wearing them at the time of the accident - the question is if there were still on him upon arrival at the hospital. Not unusual for accident victims to be relieved of valuables......

The question is - was he wearing a helmet?

All these tragic accidents & deaths - most of them easily avoidable if people had a little bit more common sense.