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Bryn Murfet with brother, sister and Carley (left) on Phuket yesterday

Phuket Tuk-Tuk Crash Victim Set to Fly

Tuesday, August 27, 2013
PHUKET: Motorcycle crash victim Bryn Murfet is glad he was covered by insurance on Phuket and is now looking forward to flying back to Australia soon.

''My legs are still numb,'' he said yesterday.

A long rehabilitation lies ahead at a hospital in Melbourne. But at least the cost of major spinal and internal surgery on Phuket has been met, thanks to insurance.

Further action appears unlikely over the crash in which Mr Murfet and his motorcycle rider, Sirinya Yiamchaiyaphum, 32, were struck from behind by a tuk-tuk at Karon, on Phuket's west coast.

Photographs of the crash scene have disappeared and officers from Karon Police Station failed to interview Khun Sirinya or Mr Murfet. The tuk-tuk and the motorcycle were quickly repaired.

The crash came earlier this month about 4am on day six of the holiday the 28-year-old Aussie had been enjoying with his girlfriend, Carley Hickman, 24.

Khun Sirina, who suffered arm injuries that required extensive treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital, was planning to drop by to see Mr Murfet today at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, in Phuket City.

Although the tuk-tuk driver's wife has also visited twice, and been ''very upset and very apologetic,'' Mr Murfet is disappointed that the tuk-tuk driver hasn't been in.

''The only time I met him was when he abused me while I was lying there, paralysed,'' Mr Murfet said yesterday.

''Even if it's still not clear who was responsible for the crash, he had no right to abuse me. I was just sitting on the back.''

More than 10 of the tuk-tuk driver's relatives visited Khun Sirina after she was discharged from hospital and urged her to take the 20,000 baht compensation offered by the tuk-tuk driver.

If the tuk-tuk driver offered compensation, it's a mystery why police not only did not lay charges but did not investigate the case.

The Aussie couple, from Warrnambool, decided not to hire a motorcycle while on Phuket because they know it's not safe.

The problem is that holidaymakers and locals often have no alternative.

''I would have caught a taxi from our resort to the 7-Eleven that morning,'' said Mr Murfet, a health and safety officer.

''But I looked around outside the resort and there were none, so I had to catch a motorcycle there and back.''

Since the crash, there's been plenty of Murfet family support with his mother, sister and now an older brother flying to Phuket to help.

Mr Murfet's key piece of advice: ''Be careful.''

He added that he was disappointed not to hear from the tuk-tuk driver: ''An apology direct from him would have been nice.''

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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If the police failed to investigate then surely the DSI should investigate the police. This smacks of corrupt police, isn't that why the DSI are here?

Posted by DSI Watch on August 27, 2013 14:40

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Now this reeks off corruption

Posted by Arthur on August 27, 2013 14:48

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@DSI Watch - you are most definitely right. However the DSI have become very quiet since arriving.

Clear corruption and not even an investigation - typical

Posted by Ciaran on August 27, 2013 14:49

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This is just another example of what happens on Phuket when a foreigner becomes a victim of a crime/accident and the suspect is a Thai.

Everyone teams up with the police taking point to make sure the Thai suspect gets off scot free.

Call it what you want but in my eyes this is nothing short of racism.

The police should be charged for dereliction of duty and DSI should be all over this case if they are the least bit sincere in their attempt in making Phuket safer for foreigners.

Posted by ThaiMike on August 27, 2013 15:15

Editor Comment:

When it comes to inadequate compensation, the main victim is a Thai. All the foreigner wants is an apology. Nothing racist here, except the abuse.

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10 relatives came to visit khun Sirina to urge her to take the 20k. That just prove how guilty he was. And even though he hit them from behind he had to abuse the poor guy. It just make sick and put me in a hate mood. But it's good it comes up to the surface and like DSI WATCH said. A case for DSI to check the police regarding the disappeared photos etc.

Posted by Nicke on August 27, 2013 15:30

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The whole behavior of authorities in this case sucks so much that further comments of mine to this incident for sure woulnd't be posted here. I better shut up and just hope never to be in such a situation.

Posted by Resident on August 27, 2013 15:40

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Think I'll stick with helicopters

Posted by catweazle on August 27, 2013 16:51

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Tuk Tuk Mafia, police, Tuk Tuk mafia, police, Tuk Tuk mafia, police.
Thailand and especially Phuket is just crazy.
To be safe here, stay away!

Posted by cliwe on August 28, 2013 01:06

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Do not use a f****ing motorbike in Thailand.

Posted by Lena on August 28, 2013 02:20

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Not a mystery to most of us a cover up and the fix is in the tuk tuk thats does wrong its arranged so they do no wrong & to hell with the farang whos the bread & butter of Phuket another quality tourist never to return.

Posted by slickmelb on August 28, 2013 06:13

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If that happened to a Chinese tourist there would be ample apoligies !

Posted by ian on August 28, 2013 08:27

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This incident has all we love about Phuket at the moment. DSI on the island to aid in tourism related problems, but this seems to have slipped though. An angry Thai-on-tourist for no apparent reason, Corrupt/lazy police with missing evidence. Organized bully tactics in the form our beloved Tuk Tuks. And here we have a tourist spending his dollars here for the benefit of all, left to contemplate and disseminate his thoughts on whether Phuket is a world class tourist destination while wondering if he will eve walk normally again. I wonder if an official complaint/case has been started on this? Nice to see the Tuk Tuk drivers wife has some moral ground, Shame on you police and Tuk Tuks once again. DSI, where are you? I'm sure he wouldn't have even gone on a bike if.. well you know.

Posted by Andy on August 28, 2013 14:46


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