Cover Up? Australian Kickboxer 'Savagely Bashed In Phuket'

bangkokheat · June 22, 2012

why would the hospital say that his injuries are consistent with a motorcycle crash when the ambulance picked him up?

Did someone carry him to another location? you would think that the motorbike would still be there, wouldnt you? then you would be able to say he was picked up at the scene of the accident

Well from reading the OP and the Gold Coast article it would appear they moved him to this private hospital owing to a issue of mistrust.

That's why they've set up a FB donation page to pay for the exorbitant fees.

The original hospital staff or the paramedics on scene seem to think it was an RTA. It's totally plausible the new hospital have said something to the contrary. It'd be really nice to hear what the private hopsital assess as the cause of the injuries.

Surely they'd be able to tell the difference between a sustained attack and hitting a stationary object.

Again from the Gold Coast article

"We have him in a private hospital ... it's not cheap but it is the only one that we trust," he said. (His Dad said.)

I would imagine he was at a state run first and then moved shortly thereafter when the family got a chance to speak to Daniel and found out that he thought something was amiss. It seems they turned their suspicion on the hospital too at that time.

Not trusting a hospital is quite strange. I know corruption is rife, but it's one of the few instiutions that I'd like to believe aren't as bad as all the others.

Having said that, could I imagine a bent doctor in Thailand giving opinions under duress or expectation from the BiB or even corroborating with them? Yes I could. Sadly.

It seems to me the Dad talked to his son and his son is adamant he was attacked.

In that situation I know what I'd do for my boy. I can understand the family's actions here. Very understandable indeed.

Will we ever find out what actually happened? I highly doubt it.

sorry, i probably wasnt clear in my post, what I meant was, if it was a motorcycle accident there would be the bike present right? so if they are saying the wounds are consistent with a motorcycle accident, yep I could understand that, IF there was a bike there, it appears that its only speculation at this point, so they not sure, which indicates to me that there was no bike, if there was a bike which there usually is in bike accidents, i guess then that would take the guess work out of the equation

bangkokheat · June 22, 2012

The original hospital staff or the paramedics on scene seem to THINK it was an RTA

can you see what i mean, they THINK it was. The other thing is, i dont recall there being a mention of who found him or who called it in

Justaword · June 22, 2012

By The way, there was a previous thread on this on TV :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/564260-local-police-are-treating-mr-ketley-as-a-motorbike-crash/

It did link to an external sources which has far more details on the events:

http://www.thephuketnews.com/aussie-beaten-left-for-dead-say-family-31469.php

Hospital, location, insurance issues, it's all there.....

MEL1 · June 22, 2012

The damage is consistent with what you'd do to end a fighters career,

and get him out of a weight catagory for good.

The damage is also consistent with a young lad's developing abilities leading him to think he can win any street fight.

Showing off Muay Thai, and any other martial art is not within the spiritual essence of the art itself.

Who's to say he wasn't intending to 'show off' to girlies, as his bike was pumped up with adrenalin, and he happened to meet a/some street fighting styled Muay Thai boxers?

Pure speculation, but possible.

Medically, if fractures to a skull, brain impression - that's possible head impact from a bike crash - but unlikely same impact spot that would lead to serious eye damage or loss of teeth unless he was flying on the bike, and nobody flies into a gas station!

-mel.

Edit: I take my words back, after looking at the pics in above second link. They are consistent with a bike crash!

I think he needs to tell daddy he did crash the bike, and change his headline from Thai's nearly left me for dead.... asshol_e!

Edited June 22, 2012 by MEL1

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

sorry, i probably wasnt clear in my post, what I meant was, if it was a motorcycle accident there would be the bike present right? so if they are saying the wounds are consistent with a motorcycle accident, yep I could understand that, IF there was a bike there, it appears that its only speculation at this point, so they not sure, which indicates to me that there was no bike, if there was a bike which there usually is in bike accidents, i guess then that would take the guess work out of the equation

Not speculation. Fact. It's already been said in the linked article from the OP (GoldCoast.com.au) that there's a bike that he was driving.

"There is no damage on the bike at all except that the top part of the dashboard is smashed in and two rear view mirrors are smashed off ... it just doesn't make sense." - His Dad Steve. Source.

Again, damage consistent with hitting a stationary object head-on. I've done it a couple of times, avoiding other drivers to prevent a collision with them.

Getting a look at the bike would be nice, but don't hold your breath.

From what another poster said here, it's common for head trauma patients to never recover the memories they had just before their trauma. Only he knows what really happened, whether he'll ever be able to access that information at any point in his life, is another matter.

The original hospital staff or the paramedics on scene seem to THINK it was an RTA

can you see what i mean, they THINK it was. The other thing is, i dont recall there being a mention of who found him or who called it in

Well that's really the artcile writer saying the word think there. Unless you spoke to the staff yourself, it'd be hard to know if they're sure it's an RTA or it could potentially be an RTA.

They'd know and be able to easily spot it given that Thailand has the second highest (allegedley) fatal and non-fatal RTA figures in the world. Alright based on non-official figures, but still. I've known 7 people who've died in the last 3 years on the road.

I'd really like to know what the surgeons that treated him thought at the private. They'd certainly know. Not that we'd be able to find out with the patient-confidentiality thing.

Edited June 22, 2012 by ManInSurat

Yunla · June 22, 2012

If you crash your bike and aren't wearing a helmet I doubt any impact damage to your head would cause these type of black eyes, it would either kill you or break your neck. I don't see those big black eyes consistent with crashing a motorbike.

actually a simple broken nose will cause eyes to swell up turn black and possibly even close - thats no trauma to the eyes at all - and if you read the OP you will discover that the injuries to this fellows upper face were quite horrific - so back to the drawing board for you

Actually, I said earlier, his other injuries - brain damage, skull damage, arm and neck damage. These imply if it was a bike crash it would be a serious crash. In a serious crash where as you say black eyes occur I would expect the cheeks nose and forehead and whole face to be bruised and cut up. The guys face looks really unhurt except the eyes and the ridge leading up from one eye. If you are saying he went flying off a bike and landed on his head I would expect the damage to be allover his face and not just his eyes.

He looks like every bloke I'm ever seen after they've come runner-up in a serious fight. In a bike crash I would expect either no injuries to face, or total massive head injuries depending on the type of crash. What he has got is bashed in eyes only, which seems a bit odd. You will also notice his eyes are smashed in, they are not as you say 'blackened from a broken nose' those eyes have taken a lot of damage directly all the way into the socket, and yet the surrounding face is fresh and sprucey.

Edited June 22, 2012 by Yunla

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

If you crash your bike and aren't wearing a helmet I doubt any impact damage to your head would cause these type of black eyes, it would either kill you or break your neck. I don't see those big black eyes consistent with crashing a motorbike.

actually a simple broken nose will cause eyes to swell up turn black and possibly even close - thats no trauma to the eyes at all - and if you read the OP you will discover that the injuries to this fellows upper face were quite horrific - so back to the drawing board for you

Actually, I said earlier, his other injuries - brain damage, skull damage, arm and neck damage. These imply if it was a bike crash it would be a serious crash. In a serious crash where as you say black eyes occur I would expect the cheeks nose and forehead and whole face to be bruised and cut up. The guys face looks really unhurt except the eyes and the ridge leading up from one eye. If you are saying he went flying off a bike and landed on his head I would expect the damage to be allover his face and not just his eyes.

He looks like every bloke I'm ever seen after they've come runner-up in a serious fight. In a bike crash I would expect either no injuries to face, or total massive head injuries depending on the type of crash. What he has got is bashed in eyes only, which seems a bit odd. You will also notice his eyes are smashed in, they are not as you say 'blackened from a broken nose' those eyes have taken a lot of damage directly all the way into the socket, and yet the surrounding face is fresh and sprucey.

Do you have any kind of medical experince at all? Are you trained in that kind of thing? (I'm seriously asking. Not to make fun of you, just you're making a diagnosis here based on some photos on a forum.)

People can have extreme brain, head, neck, eye, upperbody and even arm trauma from literally falling over, off a chair. You can be stationary on a bike and fall over and have severe head trauma. You can be doing 5km/h and the receive the same injuries. It's all completely circumstantial.

We don't know what he hit, how he hit it and what shape it was, we don't know anything at all actually other than the hospital he originally went to (most likely Vachira from the look of the hospital bed) say it's an RTA and he doesn't.

Nor are we qualified (unless you actually are) to say what injuries he should/should not have and what they should look like.

Edited June 22, 2012 by ManInSurat

Yunla · June 22, 2012

Do you have any kind of medical experince at all? Are you trained in that kind of thing?

I suppose if you want a medical expert you go to the hospital but if you want to hear just normal people expressing their opinions you go to a public internet forum.

I have hospital experience and being ill experience, but I'm not a doctor. I never actually said I was making a diagnosis, I just said it looks more like a beating victim than a road accident victim to me.

I have primary-progressive multiple sclerosis and am in a wheelchair a lot, I get bone breaks and bruising all the time.

It seems odd that the guy would get those injuries from a bike crash. Other people seem to agree with me. Including his family who unlike the people on TVF, have actually seen him in person since the 'accident'.

Edited June 22, 2012 by Yunla

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

By The way, there was a previous thread on this on TV :

http://www.thaivisa....otorbike-crash/

It did link to an external sources which has far more details on the events:

http://www.thephuket...amily-31469.php

Hospital, location, insurance issues, it's all there.....

That's a very good link there and a very interesting read. It does really give more details, but I'm sitting here looking at his face thinking - that could as easily be an accident as it could be inflicted intentionally - doing even 20-30km/h, it's very possible.

I find it interesting that the Dad at no point uses the hospital to reinforce his point. He doesn't even say that the hopsital have lead him to think what he thinks. He seems to be going on what his son said and that is 100% understandable. It must be heart rending for a father to see his son in such a mess. In his shoes I'd almost definitely be thinking differently.

I'm conflicted though, this is Phuket we're talking about here. Had this been set in Ao Nang for instance, I'd have said RTA without even questioning it.

Lol, I keep saying this, but we'll never actually know.

Edited June 22, 2012 by ManInSurat

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

Do you have any kind of medical experince at all? Are you trained in that kind of thing?

I suppose if you want a medical expert you go to the hospital but if you want to hear just normal people expressing their opinions you go to a public internet forum.

I have hospital experience and being ill experience, but I'm not a doctor. I never actually said I was making a diagnosis, I just said it looks more like a beating victim than a road accident victim to me.

I have primary-progressive multiple sclerosis and am in a wheelchair a lot, I get bone breaks and bruising all the time.

It seems odd that the guy would get those injuries from a bike crash. Other people seem to agree with me. Including his family who unlike the people on TVF, have actually seen him in person since the 'accident'.

I'm not trying to attack you. I said so before and I was being genuine. I'm just saying what I think as you are equally free to do.

Apologies if I offended you in any way.

There's people who agree with you and there's people that agree with my viewpoint, not least the medical staff that saw him first. I'm not trying to take sides. I will say that the Vachira hospital seem to be saying that he hit a pole. I really don't know why they'd lie and to start intimating medical staff of obfuscation and hiding something is really stretching reality.

Could it be an RTA? Yes.

Could it be GBH/Attempted Murder? Yes.

Does the fact that this has happened in Phuket in a week with another Australian being murdered cause people to be sensitive about such issues? I'd say definitely.

If the Bangkok Phuket could come out and say yay or nay, it'd be very helpful. It won't happen though.

Edited June 22, 2012 by ManInSurat

Lucrative · June 22, 2012

Secondary issue.......what's this Facebook fund all about? Was this guy in Thailand without travel insurance?????

I'm not judging him as I can't deduce if he was or not, however anyone traveling to Thailand without insurance is a nutter.

Perhaps you didn't read:

Mr Ketley has lived in Phuket with his parents for the past three years and is a full-time muay thai boxer training with the Sumalee Boxing Gym in Thalang.

But he should have had accident insurance. It's very inexpensive from local banks...

Yes I missed that bit......so what you are saying now is that he was living full time in Thailand without insurance????..............mental.

Well im sorry but i live in Thailand have done for 18 months and i am excluded from obtaining health insurance due to previous illness and injuries,we aren't all lucky enough to have lived a life unscathed and im only 50 and have already suffered a bad car accident that set me back over 600,000 baht.I would love to have insurance,count yourself lucky if you can.

Edited June 22, 2012 by Lucrative

Justaword · June 22, 2012

We don't know what he hit, how he hit it and what shape it was, we don't know anything at all actually other than the hospital he originally went to (most likely Vachira from the look of the hospital bed) say it's an RTA and he doesn't.

Exactly. He is quoted saying “I know I can’t have crashed. I know the roads very well", but admits not remember anything except that he was going to stop for gasoline. Unless somebody has already made his mind on what really happened, I don't see any point taking this logic as a truth.

Jumping on the conclusion that he has been attacked is based on the fact that, YES, there is an history of aggression's in the area. But there are also a bunch of deadly motorbike accidents here.

And the injuries he sustained can fit both scenarios.

pacovl46 · June 22, 2012

Maybe someone tried to get rid of the competition.

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

We don't know what he hit, how he hit it and what shape it was, we don't know anything at all actually other than the hospital he originally went to (most likely Vachira from the look of the hospital bed) say it's an RTA and he doesn't.

Exactly. He is quoted saying “I know I can’t have crashed. I know the roads very well", but admits not remember anything except that he was going to stop for gasoline. Unless somebody has already made his mind on what really happened, I don't see any point taking this logic as a truth.

Jumping on the conclusion that he has been attacked is based on the fact that, YES, there is an history of aggression's in the area. But there are also a bunch of deadly motorbike accidents here.

And the injuries he sustained can fit both scenarios.

Nail. On. Head.

Justaword · June 22, 2012

Does the fact that this has happened in Phuket in a week with another Australian being murdered cause people to be sensitive about such issues? I'd say definitely.

Fully agreed (again). Events happened on the 8th, and at the time everybody accepted the accident as a motorbike accident. It started to make the headlines we are seeing now only on the 20th, but a few hours BEFORE the stabbing, so no conspiracy theories here, please.

But yes, media exposure has boosted the funds collection effort, and this will help him to recover better, and it's what we all wish to him.

ShanePashen · June 22, 2012

Careful boys some forum idiot, will accuse you both of being "keyboard detectives"

Jimi007 · June 22, 2012

Perhaps you didn't read:

Mr Ketley has lived in Phuket with his parents for the past three years and is a full-time muay thai boxer training with the Sumalee Boxing Gym in Thalang.

But he should have had accident insurance. It's very inexpensive from local banks...

Yes I missed that bit......so what you are saying now is that he was living full time in Thailand without insurance????..............mental.

Well im sorry but i live in Thailand have done for 18 months and i am excluded from obtaining health insurance due to previous illness and injuries,we aren't all lucky enough to have lived a life unscathed and im only 50 and have already suffered a bad car accident that set me back over 600,000 baht.I would love to have insurance,count yourself lucky if you can.

Well if you live here in Thailand and have a Thai bank account, you can buy PA or Personal Accident Insurance from your bank. I have found Siam Commercial's to be better than Bangkok Bank's by the way. There are no exclusions that I know of, they didn't ask me for anything other than money...

Deborah1966 · June 22, 2012

My name is Deborah and I am Daniel's mum. I have read many of the posts regarding this incident and thought it would be fair to clear up some things.

Firstly Daniel was with a friend and they went to Laguna Bar in Rawai. Daniel wanted to go out because he was starting a heavy regime of training as he was preparing for a title fight in Malaysia early July.

Daniel is a high profile fighter and ranks 3rd in the Australian International Kickboxer ratings. Also known as the best foreigner fighter in his weight division in Phuket.

His training is very stringent and his commitment to this title fight was all he talked about.

On June 7, Daniel went with his friend to Laguna Bar and then left his friend at 12:30am (June 8) to collect another friend from Shanti Lodge. When he got there the friend wasn't there

so as far as Daniel recollects he headed back to Laguna Bar to reconnect with Alex. However, for whatever reason, Daniel detoured

and said he remembers an unmanned gas tank and thinks he may have stopped to fill the rented bike with petrol. His bike was broken down at our house and he rented a bike

to get around that afternoon.

Daniel never made it back to his friend Alex, but instead was found in Soi Saiyuan. The ambulance was called at 2:05 am.

We spoke to the hospital via an interpreter and we were told that Daniel may have hit a road hump or pot hole and had an accident.

The following day I had 2 people go into the area to look for any hazards that may have caused him to have this accident. I know the road as well as Daniel

to know there were no speed humps there, but maybe an unforeseen pot hole. The 2 men investigated the road up and down and reported there were

no pot holes or hazards at the site of the "accident".

When I saw Daniel laying in hospital I was just glad he was alive and with no evidence of brain damage. But I later thought about the absence of grazing

and skin tears to his arms and face. He was wearing thick jeans, and I thought he may have been wearing his leather jacket as he usually does at night on the bike.

However his friend informed me that Daniel was only wearing a black polo shirt that night.

People that came to visit him brought to our attention that in their opinion Daniel did not have a motorcycle accident and that we needed to investigate this further.

Later that week our doctor who was caring for him at home approached me and asked me if I had considered that Daniel's injuries were not due to a motorcycle accident. That in his

experience with forensics, he was clearly beaten with a bat or an object of the sort and that the injuries were caused to cause permanent damage or even death.

The very next day my husband went to file a police report. The police drew a sketch of where he was found and told Steve that there were road works in that location and that

Daniel had the accident there and hit a pole. My husband informed them there were no "road works' there on the day. They repeated the same story.

We have never mentioned the attackers were Thai and they may very well have been foreigners. What we do know for sure is that Daniel is a respected member of the

community. He isn't arrogant or rude, nor does he boast about his achievements and talents. He has been living in Thailand almost 5 years, 2 of them in Ubon where he learnt

to speak Thai. He has high respect for Thais and knows how to conduct himself. He is not on Ya Ba or any such drugs and has nothing to hide. When asked if he owes money

or has been involved with the wrong people, he says "I don't know of anyone who would do this to me, or want to do this to me." Anyone that has had any contact with Daniel

will verify that he is a decent, respectful and talented young man whose only dream is to make it big in the Muay Thai world. He left to go to Ubon at 18 and Muay Thai is his life.

The damage to the rented bike is not consistent with the damage to his face and neck and arm. He had severe bruising on the inside of his wrist of the right hand and the back of both hands. His right

hand was so badly bruised and swollen like a blown up rubber glove, but no grazes. If he hit a pole, how were his hands so badly bruised at the top? How big was this post that he received so much damage in

so many different places of his face and shoulder and hands and wrists?

This appeared as though he put his hands up to protect his face and received blows in these areas. He had multiple breaks, severe breaks to the top and under the nose and face. His eye socket

was smashed to pieces that the surgeon was unable to mend any of the bones. Lost teeth and many loose ones. A clean laceration to the forehead starting from the inside of his right eye to the hair line.

Stitches also above his left eyebrow and bruising to the left side of the face and temple, bruising around the neck and to the back of the neck, internal bleeding in the abdomen area, which may have been received from kicks.

Daniel's body is conditioned to receive blows. He also had bruises to both his hips.

The bike however only received broken review mirrors and the top panel between the handle bars was damaged. Did the bike land on its top without any further scratches or dents?

Maybe he received a phone call to meet someone in that area. We will never know because his phone and wallet are gone.

As for those asking whether he had insurance. Yes of course he has insurance. Health and Accident Insurance. We are all insured. But the insurance was used up to reconstruct his face and mouth.

He was in Vitchera hospital and was kept in the emergency section for 5 days.

Was he wearing a helmet? No he wasn't. His full head helmet was stolen from his bike 2 days prior to the incident.

I hope this lays to rest some of your suspicions. Daniel now needs extensive and on going treatment. I have given up my job to take care of him as he needs assistance with almost everything.

My husband and I take turns looking after him as do my parents and his 17 year old sister. The fund raiser is to help him regain full use of his right arm that is at the moment is paralysed as he

has not a millimeter of movement from the shoulder down, and no sensation whatsoever.

I can understand why and how people can jump to conclusions. However, we have not made these claims lightly. I wish it had been a motorcycle accident, he most certainly may have

received far less injuries. Daniel is of good spirit and remains positive. He is looking forward to a full recovery and says " I will fight with one arm if I have to....but I'd rather use both."

Yunla · June 22, 2012

There's people who agree with you and there's people that agree with my viewpoint, not least the medical staff that saw him first. I'm not trying to take sides. I will say that the Vachira hospital seem to be saying that he hit a pole. I really don't know why they'd lie and to start intimating medical staff of obfuscation and hiding something is really stretching reality.

No need to apologise, your posts are well written and make sense to me. Also its just a forum and really it would be boring if everyone had the same opinions and theories.

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

My name is Deborah and I am Daniel's mum. I have read many of the posts regarding this incident and thought it would be fair to clear up some things.

Firstly Daniel was with a friend and they went to Laguna Bar in Rawai. Daniel wanted to go out because he was starting a heavy regime of training as he was preparing for a title fight in Malaysia early July.

Daniel is a high profile fighter and ranks 3rd in the Australian International Kickboxer ratings. Also known as the best foreigner fighter in his weight division in Phuket.

His training is very stringent and his commitment to this title fight was all he talked about.......

My sincere thanks for coming on here and sharing this with us Deborah and let me be the first to say we genuinely hope for a speedy recovery for Daniel.

You've had a really tough time of it and it must be hard to see so many opinionated (including myself) people making bad judgement calls here.

From how you've explained it, it does now seem sadly to be what I hoped it would not be. What's sadder is that is does not suprise me in Phuket.

Sadly you're right. A young, talented Muay Thai fighter is going to be stereotyped in a bad way. Mainly as there's a precedent for it on the island with fighters only seeming to attract trouble to themselves and there's been a few high-profile cases that really show the negative side of people, especially farangs, in that profession. Daniel could be the one who helps turn that opinion around.

Thanks for also explaining what your doctor thinks. I'd have to be frank and say (citing real serious examples of friends of mine who have died here) it'll be nigh on impossible to try and hold people accountable for this. Your time spent here would lead me to believe you already realise this.

Is there no CCTV anywhere that you can access? Silly question which I'm sure you've thought of, but I have to ask.

Amazing that your Daniel breaks all of these stigmas and I'm really very impressed.

Please tell Daniel "Hai Wai Wai Na Khrap"! I hope the publicity here has enhanced the donations for Daniel too. That will be a positive outcome of being on here, if it helps in any way.

I read somewhere that they're hopeful he'll be back in a ring. I really hope this is true.

- Cheers, a new friend and wellwisher in Surat Thani.

Edited June 22, 2012 by ManInSurat

lonexpat · June 22, 2012

My condolences to the family and friends of this young man. My concern is that

in this instance and that of the poor unfortunate Australian lady someone will always be found guilty, if only to protect the image of Thailand.,

bangkokheat · June 22, 2012

thank you deborah, all our hearts are with you guys, its truly obvious your son has a fighting spirit and will come back with a vengeance Im sure. Not only his fitness as an athlete, but also the love and support he receives from his family and friends that will help Daniel to a speedy recovery. It makes me ill to the stomach to hear about these tragedies, not just the physical pain caused but also the emotional pain to his loved ones and friends. Best wishes to you all and I certainly will be watching any televised events of daniel.

George

lonexpat · June 22, 2012

There's people who agree with you and there's people that agree with my viewpoint, not least the medical staff that saw him first. I'm not trying to take sides. I will say that the Vachira hospital seem to be saying that he hit a pole. I really don't know why they'd lie and to start intimating medical staff of obfuscation and hiding something is really stretching reality.

No need to apologise, your posts are well written and make sense to me. Also its just a forum and really it would be boring if everyone had the same opinions and theories.

Amazing Thailand.The amazing thing that I find is that most Vachira DRs work at one of the bigger Farang, insurance rip-off hospital as a first job. Cover ups are to be expected. In Thailand money and saving face is more important than saving lives and admitting mistakes.

Deborah1966 · June 22, 2012

My name is Deborah and I am Daniel's mum. I have read many of the posts regarding this incident and thought it would be fair to clear up some things.

Firstly Daniel was with a friend and they went to Laguna Bar in Rawai. Daniel wanted to go out because he was starting a heavy regime of training as he was preparing for a title fight in Malaysia early July.

Daniel is a high profile fighter and ranks 3rd in the Australian International Kickboxer ratings. Also known as the best foreigner fighter in his weight division in Phuket.

His training is very stringent and his commitment to this title fight was all he talked about.......

My sincere thanks for coming on here and sharing this with us Deborah and let me be the first to say we genuinely hope for a speedy recovery for Daniel.

You've had a really tough time of it and it must be hard to see so many opinionated (including myself) people making bad judgement calls here.

From how you've explained it, it does now seem sadly to be what I hoped it would not be. What's sadder is that is does not suprise me in Phuket.

Sadly you're right. A young, talented Muay Thai fighter is going to be stereotyped in a bad way. Mainly as there's a precedent for it on the island with fighters only seeming to attract trouble to themselves and there's been a few high-profile cases that really show the negative side of people, especially farangs, in that profession.

Thanks for also explaining what your doctor thinks. I'd have to be frank and say (citing real serious examples of friends of mine who have died here) it'll be nigh on impossible to try and hold people accountable for this. Your time spent here would lead me to believe you already realise this.

Is there no CCTV anywhere that you can access? Silly question which I'm sure you've thought of, but I have to ask.

Amazing that your Daniel breaks all of these stigmas and I'm really very impressed.

Please tell Daniel "Hai Wai Wai Na Khrap"! I hope the publicity here has enhanced the donations for Daniel too. That will be a positive outcome of being on here, if it helps in any way.

- Cheers, a new friend and wellwisher in Surat Thani.

Dear new friend,

Thank you for your response. Yes we asked about the cameras but police said there aren't any in that location. However, I must say that right now my energy is better spent on getting our son back to full recovery.

People will always have their opinions and rightly so. I'm not here to justify or protect, I told it as it is. I think it's fair to clarify things to others so they may have a more genuine picture.

What is important is that for those who don't know Daniel, that they may stop making unsubstantial claims of a wonderful young man, with a passion and talent. He is in no way arrogant

or even aggressive. In fact most people don't believe he's a Muay Thai fighter. The reason he has so much support and people wanting to help in any way they can, is a direct result

of his attitude towards people. He respects and is respected.

I gave Daniel your message.

Take care

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

Dear new friend,

Thank you for your response. Yes we asked about the cameras but police said there aren't any in that location. However, I must say that right now my energy is better spent on getting our son back to full recovery.

People will always have their opinions and rightly so. I'm not here to justify or protect, I told it as it is. I think it's fair to clarify things to others so they may have a more genuine picture.

What is important is that for those who don't know Daniel, that they may stop making unsubstantial claims of a wonderful young man, with a passion and talent. He is in no way arrogant

or even aggressive. In fact most people don't believe he's a Muay Thai fighter. The reason he has so much support and people wanting to help in any way they can, is a direct result

of his attitude towards people. He respects and is respected.

I gave Daniel your message.

Take care

Ah, shame about the cameras. Sorry to ask such a patronizing question, it just struck me that that'd be definitive it showed anything up. Sod's law there's none on that route!

When he's back in the ring, I'll take a trip down with the missus and older kids to come and see him fight and say hello.

I'm sure you kindly providing us with real facts will stop the doubters. It seems the internet is awash will "trolls" these days making grossly unsubstantiated claims.

We'll keep them in check! Don't you worry about that.

I did some reading from another article on Daniel and you seem really really proud of him and even supported him to the extent you were willing to swap Aus for Phuket to encourage his career as a fighter. I can't ever think of hearing that before and that really shows how dedicated he must be to what he does. Knowing he's tried to assimilate into the country and culture and learning the language is really admirable. It's way more than the vast majority here on this forum would ever bother to do.

We'll be keeping tabs on Daniel's progress and be urging anyone in a position to help, even with a small donation, to do so.

I hope you manage to get some well-deserved rest!

- I'm a Daniel too! A Brit, but still a Daniel! Best name in the world.

Edited June 22, 2012 by ManInSurat

zyphodb · June 22, 2012

Secondary issue.......what's this Facebook fund all about? Was this guy in Thailand without travel insurance?????

I'm not judging him as I can't deduce if he was or not, however anyone traveling to Thailand without insurance is a nutter.

houlI've been here for 7 months & I've yet to see any travel insurance that would insure you for any more than 90 days so what sort of crap are you talking....

Reasonableman · June 22, 2012

Seem to be lots,

World Nomads,12 months renewable

Mondial Assistance, unlimited

To name 2

manxninja · June 22, 2012

A wise Irishman once told me that many a mans tongue broke his nose. I imagine this is the case.

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

Secondary issue.......what's this Facebook fund all about? Was this guy in Thailand without travel insurance?????

I'm not judging him as I can't deduce if he was or not, however anyone traveling to Thailand without insurance is a nutter.

houlI've been here for 7 months & I've yet to see any travel insurance that would insure you for any more than 90 days so what sort of crap are you talking....

Mate, the guy's Mum came on the thread an explained his insurance situation in clear detail.

No judging needed. Just reading needed.

"As for those asking whether he had insurance. Yes of course he has insurance. Health and Accident Insurance. We are all insured. But the insurance was used up to reconstruct his face and mouth."

That would mean they'd have none left for the massive cost of the ongoing care I would imagine Daniel will need now and for some time to come.

It also went a very long way to clear any doubts about what happened that evening and put things in a much clearer light than nearly all other threads here. A very rare thing indeed.

I know posts can be long and time-consuming to read, but it is important you hear what people have to say first.

I'd think that a small whatever donation in this case would be money very well spent knowing the facts now. What's a night's worth of Chang/Leo/Singha to anyone here, eh?

ManInSurat · June 22, 2012

A wise Irishman once told me that many a mans tongue broke his nose. I imagine this is the case.

How about you don't just read a title of a thread, ignore every other post in the thread and try and become the comedy genius? Can you do that?

I'll refer you to all the posts in communication with the boy's family (Mum) on this very page.

What's wrong with people here? I remember why I took a hiatus now.

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Cover Up? Australian Kickboxer 'Savagely Bashed In Phuket'

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