Contaminated Food May Have Killed Canadian Sisters: Phi Phi Island

[Soutpeel]

Think it very odd that just the two sister should fall victim to food or drink poisoning, Unless maybe it was deliberate. But I do agree that they should bring in an impartial expert to do and autopsy and investigate. Even if it is to be seen by all that the authorities do care and want the truth. I feel very sorry for the family who have lost two children, hope you get the answers you need.

I feel sorry for the family if they are following some of the cr*p written on the TV threads...

[thenoilif]

The blind hate for this country is pretty disturbing.

This same type of reporting and police investigation is the same the world over.

The US media constantly jumps to conclusion and various police organizations botch investigations due to incompetence or political reasons all the time. Thousands of foreigners travel all over this country every year and it remains one of the safest countries in the world.

In this case what is more likely: foul play or that these women accidentally consumed something toxic, organic or chemical? Maybe they mixed the wrong drugs or received something tainted? Or maybe they made someone angry and they were poisoned? Whatever the reason it's not the first time nor will it be the last something like this happens.

[dickyknee]

Wow all the barstool pathologists, statisticians and political analysts are out in force here at the ThaiVisa court of last resort. All they need is some knitting needles and a bench from which to pronounce judgment.

I am quite suprised none of the resident TV "experts" has suggested witchcraft...

I was thinking double-exorcism.

[Unkomoncents]

However, if it were found that the young women died because of contaminated food, the image of the area would inevitably be affected.

It's urgent that more tourists see articles like this one and the statements from police so that they understand why Thailand can be such a dangerous place. Accidents happen everywhere, but they are not constantly covered up so as to keep making money without so much as a thought about the loss of life. The Thai obsession with face and image needs to revealed to the world so that people can make educated choices about visiting Thailand. Too many think of it as some exotic, distant paradise with amazing beaches and a unique culture. They never realize that they are headed into a country with zero law enforcement, a completely perverted sense of justice, criminally negligent attitudes towards human life and personal safety, and a childlike conception of accountability and responsibility.

[happysanook]

foreign countries would have fewer concerns.

Thats the only thing I picked up in this story, since imho this is the reason for the food-poisoning angle. Food poisoning implies complicity to a certain extent, the tourist should have been more careful and wary about where they ate etc. I'm not buying it. Unless it is a new super-bacteria making its debut to the world.

And adding the suggestion of magic mushrooms. Complete bullcrap. No one EVER died from from taking too many mushrooms. Not in this way anyways. Perhaps from being stupid (ie jumping off a building) but not from ingesting too much psilocybin. Now, if they had eaten mushrooms that were poisonous...For example if a bar gave them special shakes that were truly poisonous, now that's possible. In which case it's murder.

Also, the sheer suggestion that ibuprofen may have caused both sisters to shit and puke themselves to death is absolutely ludicrous.

[Kilgore Trout]

The blind hate for this country is pretty disturbing.

This same type of reporting and police investigation is the same the world over.

The US media constantly jumps to conclusion and various police organizations botch investigations due to incompetence or political reasons all the time. Thousands of foreigners travel all over this country every year and it remains one of the safest countries in the world.

In this case what is more likely: foul play or that these women accidentally consumed something toxic, organic or chemical? Maybe they mixed the wrong drugs or received something tainted? Or maybe they made someone angry and they were poisoned? Whatever the reason it's not the first time nor will it be the last something like this happens.

Ah, so we should base our findings on what we THINK is more LIKELY, eh? So lets just blame them and be done with it right?

Not saying that police in the west don't botch cases occasionally for whatever reason but you can not compare that to here where we can all guess the statements the police would make before they do.

If the police in the west were to make the outrageous comments they do here, then the victims families would be very rich, as lawsuits would ensue.

Get a grip on reality.

[necronx99]

Wow all the barstool pathologists, statisticians and political analysts are out in force here at the ThaiVisa court of last resort. All they need is some knitting needles and a bench from which to pronounce judgment.

I am quite suprised none of the resident TV "experts" has suggested witchcraft...

I was thinking double-exorcism.

I wanted to but my fortune teller advised against it.

[sportsman69]

I think it's about time, Thai authorities look into, what kind of chemicals are used to spray hotel rooms to get rid of bugs and rats.

This story sounds like the one from Chiang Mai, i hardly think you crap/vomit yourself to death from a mix of brufen and vodkashots, I guess it would also take a rather nasty Tom Yum Goong, to do the same

Good that the bodies, has not been removed from the room, but someone should lockdown the whole hotel - so that no chemicals stored there goes "missing". Also the booze from the bar they frequented, should be locked down until the source of their death is found...

I think it's a bit late mate. I read somewhere that within a few hours of the bodies being removed, the cleaners were in with buckets of bleach, all spic and span, smelling like a rose, for the next unsuspecting guests. If illicit booze was the culprit I'm sure it's already down the gurgle.

Edited June 19, 2012 by sportsman69

[bigbamboo]

The Thais had better do it right this time. Any doubts or inconsistencies and the international press might start referring to it as 'Phi Phi Island Syndrome' or something. Just think what that would do for the tourism business there.

[ralphlsasser]

They should have it done in Canada. Here, you can bet it will be scued.

[ralphlsasser]

In my younger years I ate enough "magic mushrooms" to fill a truck and it never did anything to me except get me high. Unless they ate the poison kind of mushroom as they people did last month in, I believe Roiet, it has to be something else.

[mrtoad]

Thai cover up by smoke and mirrors is totally in play. Protect tourism industry at all costs. Agreed with GK, the bodies need to be sent overseas for an independent and professional autopsy.

[EyesWideOpen]

These things take time. You can't figure this out over night. Dr. Pornthep is a very good doc and will get to the bottom of it, hopefully.

But out of respect to the families, please show some respect on this thread.

They should insist on a foreign autopsy. Pornthip will provide whatever answer protects Thai tourism the best.

Incorrect! she has stood up to many a Thai establishment in her time and is highly respected!

This is in reply to " They should insist on a foreign autopsy. Pornthip will provide whatever answer protects Thai tourism the best."

Apart from being a bloke, Dr. Pornthep mentioned in the OP is different from Dr. Pornthip of the GT 200 fame.

Correct the original article mentions Dr. Pornthep who works at the Disease Control Center. Who all the other posters including myself are referring to is the world famous spiky haired Dr .Pornthip who seems to be at the epicenter of all major forensics issues in Thailand. That is until she endorsed the GT 2000........

Edited June 19, 2012 by EyesWideOpen

[Nigel1500]

With so many forensic experts on this forum I'm surprised one of you doesn't head down to Phi Phi to investigate.

[TomTom55]

You can rule out magic mushrooms unless whoever picked them was really stupid and didn't know what they were doing. The mushrooms that are hallucinogenic and often used/found in Thailand are psiolcybe cubsensis, subcubensis or sumibensis. These are not atal lethal and they do not have any real deadly look-a-likes either. A picker would know the signs of said mushrooms, they bruise blue when you damage or squeeze them, a veil just under the gills on the stalk, a spore print of dark purple/black, and the cap is pretty distinctive in itself.

Edited June 19, 2012 by TomTom55

[bigbamboo]

With so many forensic experts on this forum I'm surprised one of you doesn't head down to Phi Phi to investigate.

Too dangerous!

[atyclb]

Is it just me, or were they trying to imply that Ibuprofin (Advil) was some sort of exotic and dangerous drug?

It's called "reaching" and to boot comes from great intellect.

[Semper]

With so many forensic experts on this forum I'm surprised one of you doesn't head down to Phi Phi to investigate.

Well two of them have already talked about flying to Phi Phi to offer their help.

[SOEYCHANLOY]

Well, it seems to be handled by the Thai authorities the same way they handle any matter concerning "foreigner's deads in Thailand". I mean, the only few things i get from the statment are that the authorities want to difuse the point that : it is posible the two sisters got drugged by the famous coktail of magic mushrooms, because they probably were on drugs... As many foreigners use "this popular drug"...! Also whatta means : " police found several pills in their room" ? Is it IBUPROFEN a 'yaaseptik' too?

In the end Thai officials tend to say : it's their fault if they died! Always the same in this corruption nest.

Sent from my GT-S5830T using Thaivisa Connect App

Edited June 19, 2012 by Lite Beer
Profanity removed

[Deaw]

"We planned to send the bodies for post mortem at Surat Thani Hospital because Krabi Hospital has no forensic doctor. However, so far, we have been unable to move them because their relatives and the Canadian Embassy representative who came to Krabi did not allow us to do so," the director said.""

Big Thumbs Up for the family, yaayyyyyy!!

[PingManDan]

Now they are selling "Magic Mushrooms" openly in the bars on Phi Phi, dam_n lets all go to the island and get stoned on Shrooms, maybe smoke a little ganja, or trip on acid, or do meth, guess nothing is over the law here, legal when you can make money on it, and pay off the cops.

[necronx99]

You can rule out magic mushrooms unless whoever picked them was really stupid and didn't know what they were doing. The mushrooms that are hallucinogenic and often used/found in Thailand are psiolcybe cubsensis, subcubensis or sumibensis. These are not atal lethal and they do not have any real deadly look-a-likes either. A picker would know the signs of said mushrooms, they bruise blue when you damage or squeeze them, a veil just under the gills on the stalk, a spore print of dark purple/black, and the cap is pretty distinctive in itself.

See, there's the problem with the illicit drug trade, you're relying on a Gonzo who makes 200 baht a day to do enough quality control that he doesn't kill you.

[Deaw]

You can rule out magic mushrooms unless whoever picked them was really stupid and didn't know what they were doing. The mushrooms that are hallucinogenic and often used/found in Thailand are psiolcybe cubsensis, subcubensis or sumibensis. These are not at all lethal and they do not have any real deadly look-a-likes either.

Agreed. I live on Koh Phangan and they are quite popular, I would say about 1000 shakes or more are downed every full moon week and not once has anyone ever died like this. As Tom says, even "bad" or look-a-like mushrooms wouldn't have the effect that these 2 girls had, not even close......maybe an upset stomach and a headache but not the other symptoms and certainly not death.

Authorities are reaching for anything at all now.....'Oh, lots of young people use magic mushrooms here, it could have been that' ......B.S..... they also sound frustrated that the family won't let them autopsy the bodies with their own hack doctors......good for the family, hold your ground!

Edited June 19, 2012 by Deaw

[cowslip]

Same ol' same ol' - just put up one "explanation" after another until the whole thing is so confused no-one can make head or tail of it. Of course it always will have to focus on laying the blame on the victims themselves - they just go through the motions and that's it.

- heaven forbid it should turn out that a hotelier or other Thai business was to blame.......

It's totally unacceptable - and pretty obvious that the authorities just wish it would go away and not affect their income - it looks like they couldn't care less about the victims or their families.

Edited June 19, 2012 by cowslip

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

"We planned to send the bodies for post mortem at Surat Thani Hospital because Krabi Hospital has no forensic doctor. However, so far, we have been unable to move them because their relatives and the Canadian Embassy representative who came to Krabi did not allow us to do so," the director said.

Let's hope the family involved and the Canadian authorities are on the ball enough to know that allowing the Thai authorities to conduct any forensic investigation will surely result in nothing or a total whitewash.

The only way to get to the truth of the matter is to have competent forensic doctors outside of Thailand do an impartial, unbiased inquiry. And the sooner the better, so that all the pertinent evidence (beyond the bodies) can't be washed away or removed.

That's exactly what didn't happen in the case of the Downtown Inn victims in Chiang Mai. Hopefully, it's something that will happen here.

The early comments in this case by the Thai police parallel what they've done in similar past cases... start speculating all over the map and throwing all kinds of possible explanations at the wall, usually without any real supporting evidence. And usually offering explanations aimed at deflecting any blame or responsibility from the Thai parties involved.

Edited June 19, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[jaideecm]

That is very sad about the girls.

Phi Phi up until the Tsunami was a nice quiet island with a few small pubs and restaurants, great for families.. Since the rebuilding it has turned into a party island. Now they have mushroom drinks and full moon type parties every night. It's like college spring break in Florida with no police. You can hear the discos near Loh Talam beach well into early morning hours almost everywhere on the island except the north east shore.

Another place on the planet ruined by partying back packers.

Sad but true

Randy

[Jayman]

There are many pubs that serves a popular cocktail which is made from mushrooms. A tourist said that there were special mushrooms on the menu on Pangan island and Samui island and and also on Phi Phi island. Local name is “Khee Kwai ” or magic mushroom, which is popular among tourists. When consumed, this kind of mushroom will cause heavy intoxication.

Let me get this straight... the police know that illicit drugs are being openly sold to tourists at the pubs and yet no crackdown on this practice is being done? I read stories all the time here about a couple of farangs getting busted for a few grams of cannabis and yet these are actual Thai businesses openly selling cocktails with drugs in them. This county never ceases to amaze. They truly are "Amazing Thailand"

[Bender]

The Canadian embassy should send a "private' forensic doctor to do an 'official" autopsy.

Dont hold your breath on this.

Did you remember when few years ago the young canadian and his girlfriend got shot dow by a rogue cop? The canadian embassy and the family victim

did begged the thai autority for an investigation. Yes they were begging without success for justice for more than 2 years till the rogue cop made another victims...

[Semper]

There are many pubs that serves a popular cocktail which is made from mushrooms. A tourist said that there were special mushrooms on the menu on Pangan island and Samui island and and also on Phi Phi island. Local name is “Khee Kwai ” or magic mushroom, which is popular among tourists. When consumed, this kind of mushroom will cause heavy intoxication.

Let me get this straight... the police know that illicit drugs are being openly sold to tourists at the pubs and yet no crackdown on this practice is being done? I read stories all the time here about a couple of farangs getting busted for a few grams of cannabis and yet these are actual Thai businesses openly selling cocktails with drugs in them. This county never ceases to amaze. They truly are "Amazing Thailand"

Nothing amazing about it, they pay their 'fees' hence no crackdown.

[TommoPhysicist]

With the latest details released, almost certainly rat poison.