Backpacker hurt in Thai moped smash leaves hospital

9:30am Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in Wantage

A BACKPACKER seriously injured in a Thailand road crash has now left hospital.

Ryan Elson has been “overwhelmed” by support shown by people from Wantage and Grove.

Wantage carpenter Mr Elson, below, was left in a coma after a moped accident on August 1 and friends and family have been rallying around to raise money to pay for his treatment.

The 29-year-old, who did not buy travel insurance, could come home this weekend but it depends on meetings with doctors later this week.

Last night more than £7,000 had been raised by the town before fundraising events had even started.

His mum Sharon, who has been in Thailand for two weeks, said: “If I live to be 1,000 years old I will never be able to thank people enough.

“It’s not just about the money. It’s about the fact that people care about our son. He is a bit overwhelmed by it. He is aware what people are doing and he is very, very grateful.

“Until he gets home he cannot really express to people how grateful he is. He has still not totally come to terms with what has happened to him.”

She added: “We are all desperate to get back.”

His dad Rob said: “At the moment we are in a bit of a limbo. It all hangs on what these doctors say. It is a bit stressful but we will have to deal with it.”

Related links

He said medical costs were likely to be double the £10,000 the family originally thought.

Comments (13)

10:59am Wed 22 Aug 12

Bartsimpson_uk says...

Why did he not have insurance? Why did his parents not make sure he insurance. Now he has to rely on people to help him out. Any sane person going to Thailand and riding a moped would make sure they had insurance.
Why did he not have insurance? Why did his parents not make sure he insurance. Now he has to rely on people to help him out. Any sane person going to Thailand and riding a moped would make sure they had insurance. Bartsimpson_uk

1:35pm Wed 22 Aug 12

DaniCalifornia says...

I wonder if anyone would want to help you if you had an accident....
I wonder if anyone would want to help you if you had an accident.... DaniCalifornia

3:07pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Bartsimpson_uk says...

You are missing the point. The fact that he could not be bothered to take out insurance is why he is in this mess now.With his attitude we should all not bother with car, house or holiday insurance then and when the worse happens just get other people to bail us out, it would be a lot cheaper for me.
You are missing the point. The fact that he could not be bothered to take out insurance is why he is in this mess now.With his attitude we should all not bother with car, house or holiday insurance then and when the worse happens just get other people to bail us out, it would be a lot cheaper for me. Bartsimpson_uk

3:45pm Wed 22 Aug 12

jamiek says...

Got to agree with Bart people are not bothered with silly things like insurance they just expect everybody else to bail them out!
Got to agree with Bart people are not bothered with silly things like insurance they just expect everybody else to bail them out! jamiek

4:02pm Wed 22 Aug 12

traveller123 says...

Its not the point if he had travel insurance or not. As it is likely it would not of covered him anyway. You don't know the full facts of the situation. If he was not wearing a helmet he wouldn't of been covered. As is the case if he has been there for a long time which I gather he has then a lot of travel insurance policies have a maximum duration most being 3 months for a single trip policy and 31 days per trip on an annual policy. If he had been living and working there - on a work visa travel insurance wouldn't of been any good either he woul've needed the countries own medical cover. What matters is that he is getting better all the time and is coming home. Hope your back here soon ryan xx
Its not the point if he had travel insurance or not. As it is likely it would not of covered him anyway. You don't know the full facts of the situation. If he was not wearing a helmet he wouldn't of been covered. As is the case if he has been there for a long time which I gather he has then a lot of travel insurance policies have a maximum duration most being 3 months for a single trip policy and 31 days per trip on an annual policy. If he had been living and working there - on a work visa travel insurance wouldn't of been any good either he woul've needed the countries own medical cover. What matters is that he is getting better all the time and is coming home. Hope your back here soon ryan xx traveller123

4:44pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Wallingford2 says...

To be honest.....he's not a child...he's 29...he's an adult......an as such he should have been grown up about it and got insurance. Plain and simple. I am pleased that he's OK and coming home, but all this pubicity about someone who has been more than a little stupid is getting a bit much to be honest.
To be honest.....he's not a child...he's 29...he's an adult......an as such he should have been grown up about it and got insurance. Plain and simple. I am pleased that he's OK and coming home, but all this pubicity about someone who has been more than a little stupid is getting a bit much to be honest. Wallingford2

6:27pm Wed 22 Aug 12

purplecrazy1984 says...

What is wrong with all you heartless people?! this is Ryan's community, friends and family who all care greatly and deeply for him. Who are you to judge and criticise a mistake he has made? why even bother to comment and cause more grief to such a tradgedy. We all make mistakes in life and we have to live with them and move on so LET HIM! how dare you! I have known Ryan over half my life and i know for a fact he would do the same for any of us or even someone he didn't know. He is one of the most caring compassionate nicest people i know and it makes me so angry that there are people out there like you who have nothing better to than sit judge someone you know nothing about.. unless you want to help, don't bother saying anything, what good is it going to do. has it made you feel better has it?
Ryan you just concentrate on getting better and don't take any notice of these people who are obviously got a chip on their shoulder which has nothing to do with you. Cannot wait to give you a well needed cuddle. Much love, J. xxxxx
What is wrong with all you heartless people?! this is Ryan's community, friends and family who all care greatly and deeply for him. Who are you to judge and criticise a mistake he has made? why even bother to comment and cause more grief to such a tradgedy. We all make mistakes in life and we have to live with them and move on so LET HIM! how dare you! I have known Ryan over half my life and i know for a fact he would do the same for any of us or even someone he didn't know. He is one of the most caring compassionate nicest people i know and it makes me so angry that there are people out there like you who have nothing better to than sit judge someone you know nothing about.. unless you want to help, don't bother saying anything, what good is it going to do. has it made you feel better has it? Ryan you just concentrate on getting better and don't take any notice of these people who are obviously got a chip on their shoulder which has nothing to do with you. Cannot wait to give you a well needed cuddle. Much love, J. xxxxx purplecrazy1984

8:23pm Wed 22 Aug 12

freakishdazed says...

Ah bartsimpson, clearly you didn't see my post on the Oxford mail in reply to your offensive comments. It's always said you shouldn't believe everything written in the paper. For example: Ryan's age. He is in fact 28 not 29. (i know this is fact as he is 12 days younger than me and i have known him since he was born) A simple mistake but a mistake none the less. The fact it says he didn't take out travel insurance is also possibly wrong. My understanding is that it was though a bank account and because the account had not been used for a while the insurance was invalid. (information is however scetchy due to him, and now his family being the other side of the world) Maybe you should get your facts straight before moaning about things you know nothing about. Regardless of whether he had insurance or not is not the story. The story is that luckily he lives in a small caring community that would bend over backwards to help out one of their own. I hope you're proud of your comments... I just think you're coming across as a tool.

Ryan is an amazing man and a loyal friend and I wish him a continued speedy recovery and can't wait to see him. Much love x
Ah bartsimpson, clearly you didn't see my post on the Oxford mail in reply to your offensive comments. It's always said you shouldn't believe everything written in the paper. For example: Ryan's age. He is in fact 28 not 29. (i know this is fact as he is 12 days younger than me and i have known him since he was born) A simple mistake but a mistake none the less. The fact it says he didn't take out travel insurance is also possibly wrong. My understanding is that it was though a bank account and because the account had not been used for a while the insurance was invalid. (information is however scetchy due to him, and now his family being the other side of the world) Maybe you should get your facts straight before moaning about things you know nothing about. Regardless of whether he had insurance or not is not the story. The story is that luckily he lives in a small caring community that would bend over backwards to help out one of their own. I hope you're proud of your comments... I just think you're coming across as a tool. Ryan is an amazing man and a loyal friend and I wish him a continued speedy recovery and can't wait to see him. Much love x freakishdazed

8:30pm Wed 22 Aug 12

purplecrazy1984 says...

freakishdazed wrote:
Ah bartsimpson, clearly you didn't see my post on the Oxford mail in reply to your offensive comments. It's always said you shouldn't believe everything written in the paper. For example: Ryan's age. He is in fact 28 not 29. (i know this is fact as he is 12 days younger than me and i have known him since he was born) A simple mistake but a mistake none the less. The fact it says he didn't take out travel insurance is also possibly wrong. My understanding is that it was though a bank account and because the account had not been used for a while the insurance was invalid. (information is however scetchy due to him, and now his family being the other side of the world) Maybe you should get your facts straight before moaning about things you know nothing about. Regardless of whether he had insurance or not is not the story. The story is that luckily he lives in a small caring community that would bend over backwards to help out one of their own. I hope you're proud of your comments... I just think you're coming across as a tool.

Ryan is an amazing man and a loyal friend and I wish him a continued speedy recovery and can't wait to see him. Much love x
Wonderful! :) thank-you freak! You tell him. We are an amazing community, arn't we and we lucky to be part of it. Well done to us. x
[quote][p][bold]freakishdazed[/bold] wrote: Ah bartsimpson, clearly you didn't see my post on the Oxford mail in reply to your offensive comments. It's always said you shouldn't believe everything written in the paper. For example: Ryan's age. He is in fact 28 not 29. (i know this is fact as he is 12 days younger than me and i have known him since he was born) A simple mistake but a mistake none the less. The fact it says he didn't take out travel insurance is also possibly wrong. My understanding is that it was though a bank account and because the account had not been used for a while the insurance was invalid. (information is however scetchy due to him, and now his family being the other side of the world) Maybe you should get your facts straight before moaning about things you know nothing about. Regardless of whether he had insurance or not is not the story. The story is that luckily he lives in a small caring community that would bend over backwards to help out one of their own. I hope you're proud of your comments... I just think you're coming across as a tool. Ryan is an amazing man and a loyal friend and I wish him a continued speedy recovery and can't wait to see him. Much love x[/p][/quote]Wonderful! :) thank-you freak! You tell him. We are an amazing community, arn't we and we lucky to be part of it. Well done to us. x purplecrazy1984

11:23pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Bartsimpson_uk says...

Quite funny really...you accuse me of not knowing the facts and yet you don't know them either. You state that the fact it was said he did not have insurance might be possibly wrong!! Doh. Then you say 'Your understanding is..." but its a bit sketchy! Doh again
What is offensive stating the obvious that a 28 year old man is stupid enough to go on holiday and not take out any insurance and on top of that ride a moped? So what if he is caring, whats that got to do with him not taking out basic insurance.
If he had taken out insurance he might not be in the trouble he has got his family in now.
Quite funny really...you accuse me of not knowing the facts and yet you don't know them either. You state that the fact it was said he did not have insurance might be possibly wrong!! Doh. Then you say 'Your understanding is..." but its a bit sketchy! Doh again What is offensive stating the obvious that a 28 year old man is stupid enough to go on holiday and not take out any insurance and on top of that ride a moped? So what if he is caring, whats that got to do with him not taking out basic insurance. If he had taken out insurance he might not be in the trouble he has got his family in now. Bartsimpson_uk

11:30am Thu 23 Aug 12

winger whitley says...

Of course he deserves sympathy, anyone in his position deserves just that. What his friends should do, is recognise that he did make a mistake and use this unfortunate incident to reinforce the message that everyone should have insurance.
We all wish him well and hope others take note and always have the necessary cover on holidays.
Of course he deserves sympathy, anyone in his position deserves just that. What his friends should do, is recognise that he did make a mistake and use this unfortunate incident to reinforce the message that everyone should have insurance. We all wish him well and hope others take note and always have the necessary cover on holidays. winger whitley

9:50am Fri 24 Aug 12

EMBOX1 says...

Sadly moped accidents in Thailand are very common, there was even a BBC program about it last year. If you do go there, DON'T hire a moped.
Sadly moped accidents in Thailand are very common, there was even a BBC program about it last year. If you do go there, DON'T hire a moped. EMBOX1

7:25am Fri 31 Aug 12

Victor's_friend says...

Please, enough publicity for this carpenter; surprised it didn't mention his business name. He is recovering and he and his family/friends will hopefully live their entire lives knowing the care and gratitude their community has shown. Perhaps more reports of such wonder would really show what wonderful people can do, but then that is not reality. Most probably, it does happen but away from media world.

I wonder if his carpenter order book will be full to the brim when he recovers.
Please, enough publicity for this carpenter; surprised it didn't mention his business name. He is recovering and he and his family/friends will hopefully live their entire lives knowing the care and gratitude their community has shown. Perhaps more reports of such wonder would really show what wonderful people can do, but then that is not reality. Most probably, it does happen but away from media world. I wonder if his carpenter order book will be full to the brim when he recovers. Victor's_friend

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree