Friends bid to repatriate body of killed Briton Sam Austin

[noitom]

How do they know he is dead if police know nothing?

[lumply]

RIP.

I hate it when people don't buy insurance, don't arrange self-insurance -- then expect the taxpayer to "do the right thing". The right thing is not to be a burden on others. I have told my sister that if I die here - that the cheapest option is the best option and whatever remains in the estate should be used to help out friends of mine (which she has been introduced to) from time-to-time. If there is an option to "feed me to the fishes" at a discount rate - then so be it.

The embassy is not there to be a social service... that is not it's function.

I hate it when dodgy stuff gets covered up

I don't like things getting covered up either, but this is not the UK. "The plan was to move to Thailand, find a job and live there and when you live there you don't really get travel insurance.". So he was planning on leaving the UK - likely not paying UK taxes - working in Thailand, then expecting to have the UK taxpayer pay for it? He was making a choice to move here. The UK is no more responsible for someone who has left the country than some starving person in Uganda. He also made the choice to save money and not get travel insurance. Guess what - he was not working yet, he was looking.... you can get travel insurance for lengthy periods of time during the transition. There is no exclusion that indicates that if you are "looking for work" you cannot buy it. If the family thinks there is something being covered up, then let them pay for an independent (local) autopsy.

Not sure a 26 year old lad would know all of the intricate dangers and details needed to cover all of his bases. I believe it's the government's responsibility to warn and educate these young people on the best course of action before travelling to these countries.

How can one expect to be spoonfed by ones government. It is absolutely the responsibility of the individual before travel that proper research is carried out and insurance issues put in place, or not, and accept the concequences. To expect the British Taxpayer to fund the repatriation of this unfortunate young man is preposterous. Nevertheless my condolences to his family and friends who are striving to repatriate him. I hope they succeed but please, not with a penny of my hard earned money.

[Yahooka]

Not many people aware of it, but last year there were nearly 400 fatalities of British people alone

in Thailand, and that's says it all....

Yes,illness,traffic accidents,drowning,suicide,drugs(including viagra) and overindulging in alcohol is the cause in almost all of farang deaths here.

[roamer]

Why do you need travel insurance to go to Thailand ? It's paradise, right ?

[hanno]

The best advice for surviving a trip to Thailand is to come by tour group and go everywhere as a group. After that you have only the danger of road travel to survive.

I have been to Thailand 10+ times this year alone. I never, ever travel as a part of a tour group and the last time I checked, I was still alive. I don't do drugs, I do not get involved with the bar scene, I do not get into arguments because I feel I have been overcharged by 2 Baht.

I consider Thailand a lot safer than parts of Europe and most of Africa and South America.

[ResandePohm]

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an american was beaten into a coma last week in thailand, showed his near lifeless body, ten the story vanished

I might have missed that please show me a link

It happened in a park in Udon Thani. It was described as a copy cat killing to the Kho Tao killings. Three Thai teenage thugs were caught by the police for it. All admitted doing it.

[Jimbolai]

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'Please help us bring Sam's body back home'

BANGKOK: -- Friends of a young Bristol man who died just six weeks after starting a new life in Thailand are urging people to support a fundraising campaign to bring his body back home.

Sam Austin, 26, bought a one-way ticket to the south-east Asian country less than two months ago, without travel insurance.

But his new life was tragically cut short when his body was discovered last weekend.

Friends are desperate for details of what happened to the "free spirit" who had lived in Bedminster, Totterdown and St George previously.

Sam's mother was told the news by British embassy officials via Avon and Somerset police at the weekend, and a friend in the Thai capital Bangkok identified his body yesterday.

This morning, some £6,000 of the near £12,000 needed to bring Sam's body home had been raised by friends. A special fundraising evening at the Big Chill Bar in the city centre has been organised for next Wednesday.

Speaking to Bristol24/7, Jonna Russell said his long-time friend had been "incredibly well known".

"He was just known as being Sam, a free spirit who had more friends than I had ever known," he said.

"Sam had travelled on his own to Brazil and Thailand, and decided to go out there on a one-way ticket to start a new life. He saved his money and just went, and would come up with a plan once he got there.

"No one has any idea what happened to him. All we know is that there was an accident. His mum, the only person he had, was told on Saturday and we found out soon after.

http://www.bristol247.com/channel/news-comment/daily/news-wire/please-help-us-bring-sams-body-back-home

a free spirit who had more friends than I had ever known," or His mum, the only person he had

Many or none?

[abitmiffed]

How do they know he is dead if police know nothing?

Wow no flies on you eh?

[heybuz]

the body supposedly that of the swiss gentleman, that was found lately, could that be the one. just asking

[tingtongtourist]

Sorry friend but if you think travel insurance is a small cost then you know nothing about it at all.

If you are going somewhere for a 2 week holiday it is expensive enough but after that you can say goodbye to your testicles, wallet and watch.

Don't travel abroad then if you can't afford the cost of adequate insurance and expect others to foot the bill when it goes belly up.

There are parents out there that have had to re-mortgage their house to bring their injured and uninsured kids back to the UK. What's the cost of a few hundred pounds policy compared to repatriation fees, if you're lucky to survive, of over GBP 30k+? Or do you want me to foot the bill?

i would put in my will my intention to be cremated in thailand.

as for insurance company,dont know what they are like but in australia they do spend most of there time writing the indemnity "what we do not cover" so as they will not pay. The ones i look at nearly negate every possible fatality.they are vermin.

in the case of this guy, they have no info of the death so would probably get out of paying.

In any case, if they did find this guy was working without permit,theyd probably say say he was involve with illegal activity and claim a possibility of a workplace accident..no payola

You are a mug if you take out any insurance.

Look at what they did to the Brit girl who got assaulted on bangkok hotel. Ignore her till the last until media become involved.

good at taking money but not worth your grief when trying to get anything out of them

[ksamuiguy]

Is it not a requirement of ones Embassy to be notified of one of it's nationals deaths.

Is it not also required that they verify the idenity of the decesed and how the death occures.

All of the details should be known by the deceased's Embassy?

What does the Embassy have to say? Are not death's required to be "in the public record"?

[MJP]

@Tingtongtourist and everyone else.

Get a good travel insurance policy before you travel.

[MediaWatcher]

JOC, on 22 Nov 2014 - 14:35, said:

TheSiemReaper, on 22 Nov 2014 - 14:28, said:

JOC, on 22 Nov 2014 - 14:21, said:

What about the British Embassy for once doing the decent thing??

Get the poor guys body home and worry about the monetary aspects later!!

I'm British and I don't expect my embassy to give a flying fig about my corpse once I've carked it. What does it matter where a body is finally laid to rest? I'd rather my family (or indeed my country) kept the money (and its expensive to fly the deceased home - it's not the same as finding them an aisle seat - there are health regulations to be met, coffins to be found to hold the body, etc.) rather than moved my no-longer-in-the-remotest-bit-concerned flesh around the world.

I actually agree with you, but this is not about you or me, but about the young mans family, who clearly feel different!!

Perhaps his family would also like an autopsy to be carried out, in order to ascertain the cause of death, as this seems to be a mystery in Thailand. There should be more foreign media coverage primarily to, hopefully, keep the RTP more accountable.

[TomYumpoochai]

Entering the country on a 1 way ticket and intending to work? Im curious as to the visa he had for that?

I suspect someone with that kind of gameplan probably didnt have a thai elite card and im fairly confident he didnt see the need to waste extra chang money on insurance....

[Docno]

What about the British Embassy for once doing the decent thing??

Get the poor guys body home and worry about the monetary aspects later!!

I'm British and I don't expect my embassy to give a flying fig about my corpse once I've carked it. What does it matter where a body is finally laid to rest? I'd rather my family (or indeed my country) kept the money (and its expensive to fly the deceased home - it's not the same as finding them an aisle seat - there are health regulations to be met, coffins to be found to hold the body, etc.) rather than moved my no-longer-in-the-remotest-bit-concerned flesh around the world.

You're entitled to your position on death and remains. So are his parents and those close to him. Respect the right to difference and the spiritual endings of others.

I agree - we should not belittle or question the family's motives or beliefs. I guess the problem, however, arises when people expect government/tax-payer funds to support their particular spiritual beliefs (e.g., if there's an expectation that the embassy or government would provide some funds). That said, the embassy should be on this hard to determine what happened, to keep the family informed, and facilitate the repatriation process ... just not pay for it.

[ThaiLife]

Bereaved families let down by UK consular service Abroad

Bereavement services - offered when Britons die abroad - had fallen "well below expected standards" at times, the Foreign Affairs Committee report says.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778666-bbc-bereaved-families-let-down-by-uk-consular-service-abroad/

[maidee]

another unprepared dreamer comes to die in thailand...

you come here on a holliday or if you have an expat package....

chances are slim to find a job when on holliday ... no workpermit, no long stay visa ...

anyway, why not cremate the body ... 1 kg of ash (send by DHL ?) or a friend, VS 100 kg body + casket ?

Edited November 23, 2014 by maidee

[Strangebrew]

My friend Died two years this month in Bangkok I informed his sister of his passing she was unable to have his body sent home and his so called friends here didn't have the money so they said to help pay for it. So I sold all the gold I had bought over several years and dipped into my saving to pay for it myself. It wasn't cheap to do but The piece of mind is priceless. But the weird thing was after a couple months of him being laid to rest I had a dream to buy a lotto I called my sister and told her to get me a ticket and wired her money for it when draw was called I found out I won 250,000 USD. Told my sister to keep half deposit rest in my account. When it posted to my account bought new Harley. But I still wonder if some how My bud was saying thanks. I don't know if it was Karma or pure luck But his so called friends have been having a bad string of bad luck for a while now. Told my sister If I kick the bucket here let me stay here Besides going to be cremated so US gov. has to pay Ex- Marine here.

Edited November 23, 2014 by Strangebrew

[alanrchase]

£6,000 has been raised so far. Little information in the report. Why not fly with a family member or friend to Thailand, hold the funeral here, (would think most religions are covered in BKK if that is necessary) then return home and have a memorial service?

[jpeg]

I understand your point of view, but think from a parent prospective. Would you let your child rot somewhere overseas? Me personally no way. I would do everything to bring my deceased child back home. No matter what. Money is not important at that moment!

'Your' 'child' is not there. Only his/her corpse.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

The best advice for surviving a trip to Thailand is to come by tour group and go everywhere as a group. After that you have only the danger of road travel to survive.

That's not what Thailand is about though, the country is still more 'do it your own way' than have your hand held.

Not everyone is over 60 and incapable you know?

Age has nothing to do with the subject. its not what we prefer but it is a safer approach. Myself, I normally travel alone but I try to avoid land transportation over long distances particularly at night. I avoid nightlife altogether if alone. So far, since 2006, I have had no incidents of violence nor robberies. Using common sense and paying attention to my surroundings helps.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

My friend Died two years this month in Bangkok I informed his sister of his passing she was unable to have his body sent home and his so called friends here didn't have the money so they said to help pay for it. So I sold all the gold I had bought over several years and dipped into my saving to pay for it myself. It wasn't cheap to do but The piece of mind is priceless. But the weird thing was after a couple months of him being laid to rest I had a dream to buy a lotto I called my sister and told her to get me a ticket and wired her money for it when draw was called I found out I won 250,000 USD. Told my sister to keep half deposit rest in my account. When it posted to my account bought new Harley. But I still wonder if some how My bud was saying thanks. I don't know if it was Karma or pure luck But his so called friends have been having a bad string of bad luck for a while now. Told my sister If I kick the bucket here let me stay here Besides going to be cremated so US gov. has to pay Ex- Marine here.

Like I always say: What you sow You will reap...

I truly believe that.

[darhut]

JOC, on 22 Nov 2014 - 13:21, said:

What about the British Embassy for once doing the decent thing??

Get the poor guys body home and worry about the monetary aspects later!!

Sorry, but it's not the British taxpayer that is responsible for repatriation. That's what travel insurance is for.

I note the victim's friend states:

Mr Russell, a chef, said: "I always thought that a British passport was a ticket to get back home if anything happens to you but it does not work like that

"If you are not insured, then your family and friends have to raise the money to repatriate."

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Appeal-launched-bring-home-Sam-Austin-s-body/story-24583021-detail/story.html

His friend, Jon Russell, said: "The plan was to move to Thailand, find a job and live there and when you live there you don't really get travel insurance."

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-30142309

Well, you do get travel insurance if you want to save your friends and family the trouble of raising the money themselves. I note that nearly £11,000 has been raised on a fundraising page for the victim's body to be repatriated.

If you have an accident abroad and are lucky enough to survive then repatriation will cost in excess of £30,000.

As much as I have sympathy for the young man and his family and friends, the small cost of insurance saves additional heartache if something untoward occurs whilst abroad.

This happens so often and is well documented but still people do not learn.

Anyway, RIP to Mr Austin.

Sorry friend but if you think travel insurance is a small cost then you know nothing about it at all.

If you are going somewhere for a 2 week holiday it is expensive enough but after that you can say goodbye to your testicles, wallet and watch.

It costs about a dollar a day for a 12 month basic cover.

[JOC]

I understand your point of view, but think from a parent prospective. Would you let your child rot somewhere overseas? Me personally no way. I would do everything to bring my deceased child back home. No matter what. Money is not important at that moment!

'Your' 'child' is not there. Only his/her corpse.

In a situation like this logic and rational thinking is not the point!!

You have grieving parents, who want some kind of closure. And if it takes to get the body of their loved one home, who are we to tell them, they are wrong??

If the world was all logic and rational, it would be a very cold place to live!!

[wooloomooloo]

£6,000 has been raised so far.

Over £12,000 has now been raised.

[jpeg]

In a situation like this logic and rational thinking is not the point!!

You have grieving parents, who want some kind of closure. And if it takes to get the body of their loved one home, who are we to tell them, they are wrong??

If the world was all logic and rational, it would be a very cold place to live!!

That's your particular perspective!!!!!! Some 'kind of closure' is not spending a large amount of money the 'grieving parents' appear not to have, simply to throw the physical remains into a hole in the ground has nothing to with either 'logic' nor 'rational'. Exclamation mark exclamation mark exclamation mark.

[alanrchase]

£6,000 has been raised so far.

Over £12,000 has now been raised.

OK, thanks for the update, my opinion stays the same but fortunately the family now has the funds to carry out their wishes.

[Arkady]

Post deleted by Arkady

[jpeg]

It is not clear how Mr Austin died from these articles which only focus on the cost of repatriating his remains.

Exactly. NINE pages and still no mention of how this guy died. I would've that more important than all the posts arguing the toss over 'he should've had insurance'/whether the Embassy should step in. Don't you?

[louse1953]

What about the British Embassy for once doing the decent thing??

Get the poor guys body home and worry about the monetary aspects later!!

I'm British and I don't expect my embassy to give a flying fig about my corpse once I've carked it. What does it matter where a body is finally laid to rest? I'd rather my family (or indeed my country) kept the money (and its expensive to fly the deceased home - it's not the same as finding them an aisle seat - there are health regulations to be met, coffins to be found to hold the body, etc.) rather than moved my no-longer-in-the-remotest-bit-concerned flesh around the world.

I actually agree with you, but this is not about you or me, but about the young mans family, who clearly feel different!!

So they can pay for to take him home.Travel insurance is available in Thailand.