British man suffers Thai kidnap ordeal

[redzonerocker]

got to say, sucking the poison from the scorpion bite was quite funny, obviously a big western fan!
walking to get his daily mango 1 mile away? nothing to do but wash his clothes? staggering through the jungle for miles to find the road?
never mind the national tabloids, i can't wait for the film!!

[Sultry]

Okay, now I feel stupid for feeling sorry for the guy >_<

[want2bethere]

one good thing to come of this tale, it may put off other idiots from coming to LOS, it saddens me read negatives about thais. by the way, I was in a bar in Japan that had scorpions inside lolipops ( dead ones of course)

[Jockey]

Surely the British Embassy could corroborate part of this story? I can certainly think of some older guys I've met in bars who, if taken to the woods would be completely useless and disoriented (similar to their current state of existence in Cha Am). I think this story could be 70% correct. I agree with Steve G though - a prestigious waterfront development at Barry is stretching things too far!

The journalist could also have checked with the hospital - was it really specialising in contagious diseases or strangely transmitted diseases?

If the guy had lost all his money and fabricated this story to recoup his loses - then IMO good luck to him!

All in all - a good story!

[redzonerocker]

i dont want to kick a man when he's down, . . . . but,
this is a man who built a bungalow, had 2 bars in pattaya, moved to a shop/home in his wifes village, then spent 4 months in the jungle eating mangoes, got stung by a scorpion ( no worse than a bee sting!) & was left with only a pair of jeans & a t-shirt to his name?? what kind of businessman was he??
you wouldnt want to be sharing a lottery ticket with him, thats for sure!!
its bad press for thailand & a bad attempt to cover what was probably a case of a fool who frittered away his money living a fantasy lifestyle.
no sympathy

[Jaime]

At some points this story stretches credibility to the limit; is there really a prestigious waterfront development in Barry?

Answer to this question is 'yes.'

[STEVE G]

Sorry Jaime, no offense intended, I just couldn't resist it!

[chelsea]

Steve G you beat me to it, the last time I went to Barry Island there was nothing presitgious about the town at all, let alone a an expensive waterfront development.

Perhaps the man lives in Butlins and refers to that as the most prestigous waterfront property on the island. They seem to be easily pleased down that way.

[Big Boy]

chelsea,

You obviously haven't been there for years. Butlins moved out years ago, and the camp became a budget holiday site for young adults sleeping about 10 to a bed.

It must be almost 10 years ago that the buylldozers moved in and raised the camp to the ground. They've now built a housing estate there - not sure if that is the "prestigious waterfront development in Barry."

However, I very much doubt it because I think you are confusing Barry with Barry Island.

[Jaime]

A rather sad end to this story:

Family’s shock as scorpion bite man loses life Jul 9 2007
by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

A MAN has died just weeks after surviving after a scorpion sting in a Thai kidnapping ordeal.

Barry-born Gareth Pike told how he was abandoned in a Thai jungle and stung by a scorpion after being kidnapped by his Thai wife’s relatives.

His sister Pamela Roberts and other family members spoke today of their devastation after he died unexpectedly in Llandough Hospital early on Friday morning.

He had severe internal bleeding and a damaged liver.

Gareth, 56, had been treated at the infectious diseases unit at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, after he returned to Britain.

He was released from hospital about four weeks ago, but was readmitted two weeks later.

Pamela, who lives in the New Forest, said: “They should never have let him out of hospital.

“I brought him home from Thailand to get him better and now he’s dead lying in a morgue in Llandough Hospital.

“I’m so angry with the hospital.â€

[Big Boy]

Thanks for the update Jaime. Looks as if we were all too fast to condem the poor chap. Maybe there was at least an element of truth in his story.

[DawnHRD]

BB, I'm still not so sure. At no time does it say his damaged liver was due to the scorpion bite. Hepatitis is very common here - maybe he caught that from his wife or someone else. Also, who knows if he had a big drinking lifestyle here? Many do. I think his damaged liver was far more likely to be something other than a scorpion bite.

Just reread the article. He was treated at the infectious disease unit. Bites/stings aren't infectious - Hepatitis is.

[JimboPSM]

According to the hospital website they also treat tropical diseases.

We offer specialty consultation and management of a variety of infectious diseases. These include but are not limited to:

• HIV infection
  Chronic viral hepatitis
  Tuberculosis, and other mycobacterial infections
  Infections in travelers returning from abroad
  Tropical infections
  Soft tissue infections
  Post-operative infections
  Severe respiratory tract infections
  Complicated or recurrent urinary tract infections
  Unexplained fever
  Post-viral syndromes

[redzonerocker]

its a sad end for sure but i have to agree with dawn. you don't die from a scorpion sting,especially after that length of time & you are very unlikely to have liver failure from a black scorpion sting
could have been dengue fever, i'm sure the mosquitos were out in force there. dengue fever has 3 strains & one causes the breakdown of the organs (liver/kidneys) & causes internal bleeding.hepatitis is also a likely cause as is alcohol abuse, as dawn pointed out.all are just assumptions i must add.
i'm sure if my brother was in the same predicament he wouldnt have ended up in a room on his own,sharing with drug addicts.
i was particularly harsh on the guy but i still don't believe we have heard the full story here.
a sad tale indeed, may he rest in peace.

[DawnHRD]

According to the hospital website they also treat tropical diseases.

We offer specialty consultation and management of a variety of infectious diseases. These include but are not limited to:

• HIV infection
  Chronic viral hepatitis
  Tuberculosis, and other mycobacterial infections
  Infections in travelers returning from abroad
  Tropical infections
  Soft tissue infections
  Post-operative infections
  Severe respiratory tract infections
  Complicated or recurrent urinary tract infections
  Unexplained fever
  Post-viral syndromes

A scorpion sting is not an infection.
They also treat "Chronic viral hepatitis", I notice. I'm not saying that's what he had - I wouldn't know, It's just a guess, but I would bet his death had nothing to do with the scorpion.