Veteran’s Dream Life Turns Into a Living Nightmare
Alexander Parker, 73, once split his time between Scotland and Thailand. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary veteran, who served in the Falklands and Iraq, taught English in Chanthaburi. But five months ago, his world turned upside down.
Doctors first blamed heartburn for his pain. Then, Parker suddenly collapsed. Tests revealed dangerous ulcers on his spleen and liver. Despite powerful antibiotics, his health spiralled.
In August, he was rushed to a provincial hospital. By the time his daughters arrived from Britain, their father was already unconscious.
‘He Was Left With Nothing’: Daughter’s Horror at Hospital Conditions
Jayne Simpson, 47, flew in from Helensburgh. What she found was shocking. “He was lying in a community hospital on oxygen, but there was almost no equipment. He had a drip, but wasn’t being fed,” she says.
Parker was eventually moved to King Prajadhipok Memorial Hospital. There, he was intubated and placed in intensive care. Doctors now suspect lymphoma, with an 80% probability. His spleen is so swollen it crushes a lung, which must be drained daily.
Sky-High Costs Leave Family Desperate
The price of care is staggering: 21,000 Baht (500 pounds) every single day for intensive treatment. Extra procedures cost thousands more. A medical flight home? Between 30,000 and 85,000 pounds—completely out of reach.
“We’re desperate to get him home,” Jayne pleads. “He wants to see his grandchildren and get the care he needs. The system here is so different—families are expected to do everything.”
Fundraising Race Against Time
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over 8,000 pounds, with help from military charities. But the Royal British Legion can’t pay medical bills directly.
Local MSP Jackie Baillie has stepped in. “Time is critical, and the fight is to bring Alexander back to Britain,” she says.
A Stark Warning for Brits Abroad
Parker’s ordeal is a chilling warning. Dozens of Britons in Thailand have already turned to crowdfunding this year, facing mounting medical bills and slim chances of rescue.
Experts urge: never travel or live in Thailand without health insurance. One illness can destroy a lifetime’s savings.
What Do You Think?
Should Britain do more to protect expats in crisis—or is it up to individuals to prepare? Tell us your views below.
