A couple from the United Kingdom will be the recipients of a fundraising campaign to pay for hospital bills after the man, an army veteran, suffered multiple leg fractures in an alleged vicious mugging in Phuket last Thursday.
The story has been published in a few UK newspapers though it has yet to be confirmed by the Phuket Police.
The couple, Mik and Denise Laverty from Durham, in England’s northeast, landed on the island for a vacation to celebrate man’s 50th birthday just hours before the reported horrific attack.
Mr. Laverty was said to be attacked by two young men who put a gun in his face and demanded money, reported The Northern Echo.
Mrs. Laverty said she had gone into a bar to use the toilet while her husband waited outside, but when she got back she could not see her husband among crowds of people in the street so she frantically searched the area before returning to their hotel.
Staff supposedly checked CCTV footage but found no trace of Mr. Laverty. Hours later, the hotel was contacted by a nearby hospital to say one of their guests had been admitted.
Mrs. Laverty allegedly rushed to her husband’s bedside and was shocked to learn what had happened. He is reported to have been so badly injured that his recollection of the mugging was patchy. He did allegedly remember seeing a black SUV around the time he was grabbed.
He also seemed to recall telling the attackers that he had no cash, so they took his watch and keys and made off, leaving him in a side street with multiple leg fractures which have since been operated on.
His wife was initially too scared to return to the hotel, fearful the robbers had the room key, reported The Phuket News.
A friend of the couple has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help the couple deal with the costs of the alleged attack. The campaign says that they have already had to pay GBP3,000 (THB130,309) for medical expenses but are concerned about spiralling costs while their insurers investigate. The page hopes to raise GBP10,000 (THB434,300) and has raised GBP1,030 (THB43,430) from 46 donors so far.
The UK newspaper’s story said that the couple reported the crime to police and an officer and hotel security staff helped them. The couple said that they expected to speak to the British Embassy last night.
Coconuts reached out to the embassy as well, but they did not respond to requests for information. If they reply, we will update this story.
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