French family rescued from deep forest in Phuket after losing their way in search for hotel

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French family rescued from deep forest in Phuket after losing their way in search for hotel
Eakkapop Thongtub


The French family after their rescue.

PHUKET: -- A French family of four were rescued early this morning (December 27) after spending an epic evening lost in thick forest on Baan Sakoo hill in Thalang.

The Letshon family members, named as Bill, 56, Ninon, 20, Rose, 19 and Elisa, 16, were reportedly trying to walk from Nai Yang Beach to Nai Thon, over the hill when they became lost.

The family phoned the 1155 tourist police hotline at around 6.30pm yesterday (December 26), but Tha Chatchai Police and Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation volunteers took a further two hours to find them because they were so far inland. One of the search parties eventually managed to locate the family.

The trail was so rough it then took the Letshon family and rescuers another four hours before they were safely out of the forest at around 12.30am today.

After speaking with the group, police said the family were staying at a hotel at Nai Yang Beach. After they had checked out, they decided to walk to Nai Yang to Nai Thon to look for another hotel, but instead became lost.

Police said the family were on their first trip to Phuket – no doubt a holiday they will remember for a long time.

In March this year Italian tourists Mirko Bolognini, 42, and Valentina Parisani, got lost in the jungle on Khao Phra Taew but were safely rescued.

At the end of October 2012, a search involving 100 officers was launched in the same area to find British couple Mohammed Samir and Hanna Zareen Shaid. The couple called to say they were lost, but after that there were no more calls. They were found safe just after midnight.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/french-family-rescued-from-deep-forest-in-phuket-after-losing-their-way-in-search-for-hotel-43697.php


-- Phuket News 2013-12-27

[ricku]

Ridiculous!

Well, I'm glad they made it.

[Costas2008]

Ahhhhhhhhhh.......it has to be French!!!!!!

[stevenl]

No pointing?

[Tywais]

No pointing?

There is but he is directionally challenged.

[MK1]

"Lost in Phuket"..a new french movie version remake, of the famous Chinese movie block buster (Lost in Thailand), coming soon!

Edited December 27, 2013 by MK1

[JoeThePoster]

Smiles all around. Did someone say cheese?

[stevenl]

Smiles all around. Did someone say cheese?

I must say the photo does capture the relief very well.

But can somebody please tell her than if not on the beach, please wear some (half) decent clothing.

[Somtamnication]

All they had to do was follow the snails home!!

[andreandre]

Smiles all around. Did someone say cheese?

I must say the photo does capture the relief very well.

But can somebody please tell her than if not on the beach, please wear some (half) decent clothing.

What? like the bar girls around patong and or the schoolgirls with the mini mini skirts and cleavage spilling out of their tops... that sort of 'half' decent you mean...

Mostly they are not seen on the beach...

[Khun Loong]

This is a joke right?

[Rob8891]

No pointing?

No, but one two guys have their thumbs up......

edit due to being mathematically challenged

Edited December 27, 2013 by Rob8891

[xtof2]

Ahhhhhhhhhh.......it has to be French!!!!!!

Hahahaha stupid !

Sure, Lehtson, Bill, Rose, Elisa, all french names....

[bangarang]

The only logic I can think of for them wanting to walk that far looking for a hotel is because of the price of a tuk tuk nowadays. Happy they were found but still, such a stupid thing to do in Thailand as a tourist. Walking to the next village in phuket is not the same as walking across paris for a baguette and coffee.

[Minnehaha]

I did not pay attention to the names. But if I found 4 lost Europeans looking like this and the son was wearing a string bikini bottom, I would assume they were French.

[zydeco]

Typical bunch of European tourists. Take them away from a hotel lobby and a taxi stand, and they are helpless.

[anthobkk]

I did not pay attention to the names. But if I found 4 lost Europeans looking like this and the son was wearing a string bikini bottom, I would assume they were French.

The dad and his three daughters

[Wat dee]

Ahhhhhhhhhh.......it has to be French!!!!!!

Behave Costas or they might stop paying for your pension!

[Docno]

Do you think it could be this guy, Bill Leyshon? Scroll down to see a photo of him from a few years back. Looks very similar, the age is about right, and this 'other' Bill has only daughters as well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2008/05/22/bill_leyshon_profile_feature.shtml

If so, we have a Brit who pretended to be French to save his country the embarrassment and to stick one to the continentals.

[LivinginKata]

Do you think it could be this guy, Bill Leyshon? Scroll down to see a photo of him from a few years back. Looks very similar, the age is about right, and this 'other' Bill has only daughters as well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2008/05/22/bill_leyshon_profile_feature.shtml

If so, we have a Brit who pretended to be French to save his country the embarrassment and to stick one to the continentals.

You might be correct. Plus the Beeb article states "After travelling to France 27 years ago to learn thatching techniques, Bill decided to settle in Normandy which is where he currently lives with his wife and five children."

Likely the same guy. Reporter spelling error of name Leyshon - Letshon. Explains the non French names. Well done reporters

[wirat69]

No pointing?

There is but he is directionally challenged.

Thumbs up.... so would I if I found a French lass walking in the forest in her underwear!! (OK maybe it is a bathing suit, but it is rather skimpy on the modesty front!)

[Ulic]

I am surprised they weren't told they had to be missing 24 hours before the police would get involved.

[Suradit69]

Ahhhhhhhhhh.......it has to be French!!!!!!

"In March this year Italian tourists Mirko Bolognini, 42, and Valentina Parisani, got lost..."

"At the end of October 2012, a search involving 100 officers was launched in the same area to find British couple ..."

I am surprised they weren't told they had to be missing 24 hours before the police would get involved.

I doubt they told the police that they were "missing." That's not something one normally reports about oneself.

Pretty sure they would have said they were lost.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Suradit69

[sz1a]

Dad with three daughters on holiday, wait until the mother & ex wife finds out they got lost in the jungle. Haha!

[JetsetBkk]

Do you think it could be this guy, Bill Leyshon? Scroll down to see a photo of him from a few years back. Looks very similar, the age is about right, and this 'other' Bill has only daughters as well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2008/05/22/bill_leyshon_profile_feature.shtml

If so, we have a Brit who pretended to be French to save his country the embarrassment and to stick one to the continentals.

Nah, he didn't pretend he was French - they asked him where he was from and he said "France"...

After travelling to France 27 years ago to learn thatching techniques, Bill decided to settle in Normandy which is where he currently lives with his wife and five children.

That was in 2008. Maybe he still lives there.

[Misterwhisper]

Smiles all around. Did someone say cheese?

The girl in the background looks like she's been saying "fromaaaaage" instead.

[noikrit]

Great Story !!!! Glad they made it home !! .... Next time a bit of bush skills .... Place a Baguette in water ... Gently rub one end and see which way it points to North !! ...

[mdmayes]

I like happy endings.

[Hugh Jarse]

And hat's off to the Police for helping them.

[sunshine51]

What I find slightly amusing is this...

How does one (let alone a group) get lost on an island;

especially an island the size of PKT? I mean if it was

Australia...then I could easily understand....but Phuket?

I wonder if "Christmas Spirits" had anything to do with this?

Or...judging by the look on the guy's face plus the 3 chicks,

perhaps there was some monkey business going on in the

forest....just sayin....

Edited December 27, 2013 by sunshine51