Phuket: Family Looks For Help To Get Injured American Back Home

[webfact]

Phuket: Family looks for help to get injured American back home
Naraporn Tuarob


George and his brother Hal.

PHUKET: -- George Byrdwell Harris Jr has been lying in a hospital in Phuket for the past eight months after a horrific motorbike accident in August last year.

His family want to get him home but money is the problem.

Mr Harris, 53, who worked offshore with a Singapore-based company installing oil and gas pipelines, on oil rigs and was on one of his regular vacations in Phuket, when he was hit by a car driven by a Belgian, a regular visitor to the island.

Mr Harris, 53, from Louisiana in the United States, was first sent to Patong Hospital and then transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital where he underwent five hours of brain surgery.

The operation saved his life but he was severely injured. It took him two months to come out of a coma, and he is still badly disabled.

“George is not a vegetable; he reacts to people, but he can’t speak or do anything for himself,” his younger brother Hal, 49, told The Phuket News.

Like George, Hal Harris worked offshore and stayed in Phuket when on leave. He says he had to abandon his job after the accident in order to look after George.

Dr Lersak Leenanithikul, the doctor who performed the brain surgery and has been tending to Mr Harris since then, says, “He was in a coma for a couple of months. After various treatments and physical therapy he has improved and has started to react to what people say.”

But Dr Lersak is not optimistic about his chances of recovery, saying there is “almost zero possibility of him recovering completely and living a normal life.”

Mr Harris is currently the longest-staying patient in the hospital. His family want to move him back to the US so that he can be cared for in a more familiar environment.

Parklane Hospital in Dallas, Texas, which has a partnership with Vachira Hospital, has agreed to take care of him – he has US social security to cover the costs. Meanwhile, treatment at Vachira has been paid for from the Belgian driver’s insurance, and that hospital is not looking for further payments.

But there is one big hurdle: the cost of flying home to the US. The total cost of repatriation to Dallas is B658,000, which neither Mr Harris nor his family have. That’s the cost of air tickets for him and a nurse to take care of him on the flight, plus portable medical equipment such as oxygen and a portable intensive care unit.

Because of Mr Harris’s condition – his inability to help himself – help from the US Embassy in Bangkok requires considerable legal manoeuvrings in the US, which will cost hundreds of thousands of baht – which the family do not have.

The family are now hoping to get George Harris home without embassy help, and are hoping that good-hearted people will donate funds for this.

Donations can be deposited with the Vachira Phuket Hospital branch of TMB Bank, account number 495-2-24342-8, account name: Foundation for Foreigners’ Welfare. SWIFT Code: TMBKTHBK

The bank spends roughly B2 million every year treating foreigners who have no insurance and no funds to pay for treatment.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-family-looks-for-help-to-get-injured-american-back-home-38668.php


-- Phuket News 2013-04-15

[Rainmon]

I will post this on my FB page and send emails out about this in the hope he can get back to USA, btw; the hospital name is Parkland, not Parklane, it is the public County Hospital in Dallas where President Kennedy was taken after he was shot.

[thaikahuna]

I would also suggest that they go after the Belgian's insurance to get him home as well.

[NomadJoe]

I will post this on my FB page and send emails out about this in the hope he can get back to USA, btw; the hospital name is Parkland, not Parklane, it is the public County Hospital in Dallas where President Kennedy was taken after he was shot.

Good idea. As will I.

I always wondered...immigration must have an exception for injured people that overstay, but I have never heard of it.

[Locationthailand]

Sad, but a reminder of not coming to Thailand and thinking road rules and river responsibility apply. Like the other OP, I am sure the Belgian insurance would need to be tested and if not, the Belgian National can be joined on an action.

[stevenl]

I would also suggest that they go after the Belgian's insurance to get him home as well.

Yes, should be checked, but I very much doubt something like that would be covered.

[Fgis]

A bit weird. Usually people ask for help when they cannot pay hospital bill but he is "lucky" enough that insurance paid all but still want more ?

And all family members cannot manage to get $15000 ?

Wish him the best and as good recovery as possible.

[rotary]

One would think the company he worked for might have insurance that would help to or pay for sending him back to the USA.

I work in an industry like this and most if not all have insurance but it might not cover the repat, not sure on that but worth checking.

Edited April 16, 2013 by rotary

[JulesMad]

A bit weird. Usually people ask for help when they cannot pay hospital bill but he is "lucky" enough that insurance paid all but still want more ?

And all family members cannot manage to get $15000 ?

Wish him the best and as good recovery as possible.

I agree!

It is well known that guys who work in the off-shore business, make heaps of money. Besides that, his american family are unable to raise $15000?!? I find that very hard to believe....

Anyway, good luck, George!

[Nobelcat]

While I really do find this tragic, I seriously hate everyone asking for other people to pay for their actions. I'm here in Thailand without insurance and I'm well aware of the fact that I'm at risk as result of that. But if I had an issue, I'd look to borrow from my personal friends whom I would expect to pay back. If I was unable to function, then I'd assume some friend or family member would find a way to borrow money and do the same (though I wouldn't expect that of them). Just never ask random strangers to support you because of the choices you made.

But with that said, I do hope that George makes it back to the USA and learns to communicate (blinking eyes like morse code!).

[FritsSikkink]

A bit weird. Usually people ask for help when they cannot pay hospital bill but he is "lucky" enough that insurance paid all but still want more ?

And all family members cannot manage to get $15000 ?

Wish him the best and as good recovery as possible.

I agree!

It is well known that guys who work in the off-shore business, make heaps of money. Besides that, his american family are unable to raise $15000?!? I find that very hard to believe....

Anyway, good luck, George!

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

Edited April 16, 2013 by FritsSikkink

[kiniyow]

The Oil Company he worked for should help him..There Not short on Money by any means...

[stevenl]

A bit weird. Usually people ask for help when they cannot pay hospital bill but he is "lucky" enough that insurance paid all but still want more ?

And all family members cannot manage to get $15000 ?

Wish him the best and as good recovery as possible.

I agree!

It is well known that guys who work in the off-shore business, make heaps of money. Besides that, his american family are unable to raise $15000?!? I find that very hard to believe....

Anyway, good luck, George!

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

And why is that, because his family prefers it if he is closer to them?

[NamKangMan]

While I really do find this tragic, I seriously hate everyone asking for other people to pay for their actions. I'm here in Thailand without insurance and I'm well aware of the fact that I'm at risk as result of that. But if I had an issue, I'd look to borrow from my personal friends whom I would expect to pay back. If I was unable to function, then I'd assume some friend or family member would find a way to borrow money and do the same (though I wouldn't expect that of them). Just never ask random strangers to support you because of the choices you made.

But with that said, I do hope that George makes it back to the USA and learns to communicate (blinking eyes like morse code!).

It's surprising how many "personal friends" suddenly become "random strangers" when borrowing money is involved.

In any case, what gives you the right to "burden" your friends and family with your own financial issues because you want to avoid paying for insurance?

If you had a life changing injury like that in the OP, your family would be selling their assets just for your hospital bill.

"I'm careful" - I hear you say. What about the drunk bar girl or drunk young Thai guy who crashes into you. Good luck getting money out of them.

Do your friends and family a favour - get insurance. If you can't afford it, ask them for a small amount of money now, rather than asking them for hundreds of thousands of dollars later.

Edited April 16, 2013 by NamKangMan

[bunta71]

I will be glad to help a little. Could be any of us needing help someday instead of judgement.The world turns with help from others

Edited April 16, 2013 by bunta71

[stoffel45]

Let me try to throw in a cent's worth.

I am very familiar with this problem and spent 9 years in Thailand helping distressed foreigners - there are ways.

1. Make up a Central File - stick it on Cloud or put it in PDF form. The File.

2. Contact U.S.Citizen services in the U.S. Consulate in Bangkok. 022054049. Be prepared for "If you can call in at our office...."type of help. In my many MANY run ins with USCS - it took dynamite to move them a millimetre. You must persevere.

Suggest: Send the file to a friend in Bangkok. Have the friend take the file (the whole file) to the USCS in Bangkok. Get a receipt. The File includes ALL Consular passport information, next of kin info. employers company, address and phone and email contacts. Names of friends in the US. Former employee status in the US with links to named companies, bosses and colleagues. This is the File.

Take a covering typed letter BRIEFLY (oh but these guys are so BUSY - respect that).

This Letter should in bullet points.

Name. Passport No. Date of issue. Photocopy of passport and visa entries included.

Subject: Current whereabouts. e.g Hospital in Phuket.

If possible a doctors "Fit / or not / to Fly x hours - needs accompaniment/ not.

Outstanding Medical Bills in Thailand. Details not older than 5 days.

What would the Subject NEED - cash, airticket, assistance on arrival.

If USCS are "too busy" - get the American expats to send a letter to every US Senator and Congressman. Send a copy to every Newspaper in the US.

Use this only if they are prevaricating. It does help light the fuse.

Immigration: The hospital can take care of Immigration Procedure to extend the stay due to hospitalisation. Normally the charge is 1800 baht and the Subject has to provide two photos - usually done and charged for by the hospital. If for any reason the hospital cannot do it - have a friend collect the information and forms completed by the Hospital - take two photos of the Subject - name and date on the reverse. The Subject's Passport and give to Immigration. It is normally a rubber stamp job.

If there is overstay PRIOR to the accident - that opens up a whole new can of worms.

Churches.

If it was not for Christian Churches (of all flavours) many of our 72 expat casevacs would not have happened. Christianity is in the business of helping neighbours. Heck we even repatriated 4 muslims.

You in Phuket who are this man's friends. Make a list of the Churches. Take The File and the Summary Letter with all the mini details to the pastor of the Church to an appointment with the Pastor. Ask if you can make an appeal during Service or ask for a member of congregation to help you .

Remember that Churches like all charities, are targets of con-men. People who came to Thailand, were conquered, ran out of money and sense and spiralled down. I handled a load of these and yes they are difficult to tell - at first.

So be factual -not emotional in this matter.

Back to Family.

Yes, I have been turned down by families who mostly view the Subject as a waste of time. They've poured money into fun binges on all sorts of pretexts. "Mom I am in Jail - I am in hospital - the Mafia's after me and will kill me if I don't pay." Endless.

Do not just telephone the Family. Get email addresses. Send the File. If you have difficulty with USCS - give them the details in email. Be utterly truthful.

I do not believe that the Family - and former friends or employers cannot help. Maybe they cannot pay 100% - but 80% IS possible. They have Churches in his town too.

Get a FUND established - NOT in Thailand - not at this Bank - it is a RED Flag to would be donors.

Once the FUND is established (takes a minute in the US) and there is enough - inform the US State Department and it can have the money IMMEDIATELY (and I mean that) in Bangkok.

Thus the Embassy/Consulate pay the Bills with NO risk of "local commissions" if you take my drift.

Now when you have ALL that done - contact me on < Email address removed, please use PM function to contact >

Good Luck.

Edited April 16, 2013 by metisdead
13) Not to post email addresses in posts due to potential spam problems.

[Phronesis]

Offshore guys mostly earn above USD$700 per day.

The brother can go an do 3 weeks offshore and fund the flight home himself.

Why all this cap in hand BS....

[Yahooka]

While I really do find this tragic, I seriously hate everyone asking for other people to pay for their actions. I'm here in Thailand without insurance and I'm well aware of the fact that I'm at risk as result of that. But if I had an issue, I'd look to borrow from my personal friends whom I would expect to pay back. If I was unable to function, then I'd assume some friend or family member would find a way to borrow money and do the same (though I wouldn't expect that of them). Just never ask random strangers to support you because of the choices you made.

But with that said, I do hope that George makes it back to the USA and learns to communicate (blinking eyes like morse code!).

You`re contradicting yourself with your statement here IMO.You hate it when uninsured people (like you) ask for donations,but you`re assuming that friends and family helps you if you get hospitalized ?

Being uninsured it`s a personal choice,but I do hope that you know how expensive (good)hospitals have become here in Thailand and the staggering cost of an eventual medevac to your home country.

[FritsSikkink]

A bit weird. Usually people ask for help when they cannot pay hospital bill but he is "lucky" enough that insurance paid all but still want more ?

And all family members cannot manage to get $15000 ?

Wish him the best and as good recovery as possible.

I agree!

It is well known that guys who work in the off-shore business, make heaps of money. Besides that, his american family are unable to raise $15000?!? I find that very hard to believe....

Anyway, good luck, George!

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

And why is that, because his family prefers it if he is closer to them?

Because he/she got him in this trouble.

[stevenl]

A bit weird. Usually people ask for help when they cannot pay hospital bill but he is "lucky" enough that insurance paid all but still want more ?

And all family members cannot manage to get $15000 ?

Wish him the best and as good recovery as possible.

I agree!

It is well known that guys who work in the off-shore business, make heaps of money. Besides that, his american family are unable to raise $15000?!? I find that very hard to believe....

Anyway, good luck, George!

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

And why is that, because his family prefers it if he is closer to them?

Because he/she got him in this trouble.

Yes, and paid for that.

But the present issue is something different, nothing to do with medical care but only with personal preferences.

[Wat dee]

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

Why Belgium person should pay the bill?? I agree if he was DUI.

Accidents happen!That's why we have/pay insurances.

[Jimi007]

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

Why Belgium person should pay the bill?? I agree if he was DUI.

Accidents happen!That's why we have/pay insurances.

If he caused the accident, drunk or not and his insurance won't cover the repatriation of the accident victim, why shouldn't he be liable?

[NamKangMan]

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

Why Belgium person should pay the bill?? I agree if he was DUI.

Accidents happen!That's why we have/pay insurances.

If he caused the accident, drunk or not and his insurance won't cover the repatriation of the accident victim, why shouldn't he be liable?

He obviously didn't have his own insurance, otherwise, they would have paid for his repatriation.

[stevenl]

No, no insurance will pay for the repatriation. There is no medical need for repatriation, he was living here and now wants to move back home.

Own choice, own payment.

[Jimi007]

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

Why Belgium person should pay the bill?? I agree if he was DUI.

Accidents happen!That's why we have/pay insurances.

If he caused the accident, drunk or not and his insurance won't cover the repatriation of the accident victim, why shouldn't he be liable?

He obviously didn't have his own insurance, otherwise, they would have paid for his repatriation.

So what? It is also obvious that the Belgium was at fault or his insurance wouldn't have paid for his extended hospital care, to use insurance company logic...

Edited April 17, 2013 by Jimi007

[NamKangMan]

No, no insurance will pay for the repatriation. There is no medical need for repatriation, he was living here and now wants to move back home.

Own choice, own payment.

"Mr Harris, 53, who worked offshore with a Singapore-based company installing oil and gas pipelines, on oil rigs and was on one of his regular vacations in Phuket, when he was hit by a car driven by a Belgian, a regular visitor to the island."

"Like George, Hal Harris worked offshore and stayed in Phuket when on leave. He says he had to abandon his job after the accident in order to look after George."

Note the words "vacation" and "on leave." They were probably 1 month on the rig and 2 weeks or 1 month off the rig. A lot of "Rig Pigs" come to Thailand for booze and the sex. Nothing new about that. These guys would have just been on a 30 visa exemption stamp. Doesn't sound a lot like "he was living here" to me.

So, this guy, should have got on the internet or phone on the rig, or organised a yearly multi-travel policy, and bought a cheap travel insurance policy just to cover liability, medical and repatriation. The guy in the OP obviously didn't, and now asks for donations.

Of course, this depends if he was riding legally.

Edited April 18, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

The Belgium person (or his Insurance) should pay the bill.

Why Belgium person should pay the bill?? I agree if he was DUI.

Accidents happen!That's why we have/pay insurances.

If he caused the accident, drunk or not and his insurance won't cover the repatriation of the accident victim, why shouldn't he be liable?

He obviously didn't have his own insurance, otherwise, they would have paid for his repatriation.

So what? It is also obvious that the Belgium was at fault or his insurance wouldn't have paid for his extended hospital care, to use insurance company logic...

"So what" - well, if he was riding legally and had travel insurance, or trauma/disability insurance, the insurance company would have paid to get him home, or paid out a lump sum, that's "So what."

Edited April 18, 2013 by NamKangMan

[stevenl]

No, no insurance will pay for the repatriation. There is no medical need for repatriation, he was living here and now wants to move back home.

Own choice, own payment.

"Mr Harris, 53, who worked offshore with a Singapore-based company installing oil and gas pipelines, on oil rigs and was on one of his regular vacations in Phuket, when he was hit by a car driven by a Belgian, a regular visitor to the island."

"Like George, Hal Harris worked offshore and stayed in Phuket when on leave. He says he had to abandon his job after the accident in order to look after George."

Note the words "vacation" and "on leave." They were probably 1 month on the rig and 2 weeks or 1 month off the rig. A lot of "Rig Pigs" come to Thailand for booze and the sex. Nothing new about that. These guys would have just been on a 30 visa exemption stamp. Doesn't sound a lot like "he was living here" to me.

So, this guy, should have got on the internet or phone on the rig, or organised a yearly multi-travel policy, and bought a cheap travel insurance policy just to cover liability, medical and repatriation. The guy in the OP obviously didn't, and now asks for donations.

Of course, this depends if he was riding legally.

True,

Living here or not does not change the essance, we seem to agree for once: he did not have repatriation insurance and makes the personal choice to move back home. His choice, his money.

[Jimi007]

If he caused the accident, drunk or not and his insurance won't cover the repatriation of the accident victim, why shouldn't he be liable?

He obviously didn't have his own insurance, otherwise, they would have paid for his repatriation.

So what? It is also obvious that the Belgium was at fault or his insurance wouldn't have paid for his extended hospital care, to use insurance company logic...

"So what" - well, if he was riding legally and had travel insurance, or trauma/disability insurance, the insurance company would have paid to get him home, or paid out a lump sum, that's "So what."

Again, so what? He obviously doesn't have whatever insurance you think he should have had... What are you an insurance salesman?

[NamKangMan]

No, no insurance will pay for the repatriation. There is no medical need for repatriation, he was living here and now wants to move back home.

Own choice, own payment.

"Mr Harris, 53, who worked offshore with a Singapore-based company installing oil and gas pipelines, on oil rigs and was on one of his regular vacations in Phuket, when he was hit by a car driven by a Belgian, a regular visitor to the island."

"Like George, Hal Harris worked offshore and stayed in Phuket when on leave. He says he had to abandon his job after the accident in order to look after George."

Note the words "vacation" and "on leave." They were probably 1 month on the rig and 2 weeks or 1 month off the rig. A lot of "Rig Pigs" come to Thailand for booze and the sex. Nothing new about that. These guys would have just been on a 30 visa exemption stamp. Doesn't sound a lot like "he was living here" to me.

So, this guy, should have got on the internet or phone on the rig, or organised a yearly multi-travel policy, and bought a cheap travel insurance policy just to cover liability, medical and repatriation. The guy in the OP obviously didn't, and now asks for donations.

Of course, this depends if he was riding legally.

True,

Living here or not does not change the essance, we seem to agree for once: he did not have repatriation insurance and makes the personal choice to move back home. His choice, his money.

No one likes insurance companies. A lot of people view insurance as a waste of money, or believe, they have the savings to pay for any incident that may occur. The guy in the OP is an extreme case, but it does happen, as we can see.

I'm fully insured for health, disability and life. If I dropped dead, ended up in a wheel chair or had a serious illness, no one in my family is at a financial loss, and I don't have a Thai family and young 50/50 kids to support.

No offence to anyone, but if something like what happened to the OP happened to the many that are uninsured here, their wife would probably have to go and work in a bar.

Most members come from countries that offer Goverment (tax payer) funded medical treatment, but very few think about how they are going to pay for getting "patched up" to at least be able to fly back to their country for ongoing operations and treatment. One could potentially lose their life savings.

Many here pay their rent, electric, internet, sat TV, water etc - but wouldn't even contemplate getting insurance. Amazing.