PHUKET: Australian Dale Richardson looked as though he had been hit by a train as he sat up in bed today at a Phuket hospital for the first time since being knocked out cold in Patong.
Dale and others who were there reckon his drink was spiked. Nobody can say for sure, one way or the other.
The good thing is, he should be well enough the day after tomorrow to escort his mother Anni down the aisle on a Phuket beach as she weds.
The 24-year-old fisherman from Caloundra, on Australia's Sunshine Coast, reckons he and about 50 other family and guests have been having a wonderful time on Phuket this week.
''We've done lots of tours, Phi Phi, motorbike rides, snorkelling . . . it's been great,'' he said from his bed in the intensive care unit at Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City.
Anni, mother of eight, is due to wed plumber Geoff Holly on a Phuket beach this week. Dale, about an hour after waking from his long sleep, was too hazy still to remember the exact Phuket beach.
But as he is due to escort his mother down the aisle on the sand, someone is bound to set him straight quick.
Dale's dangerous night out came to light when a report was filed with Patong police for travel insurance purposes.
There is no saying with absolute certainty that his drink was spiked, but there's a strong suspicion that it was.
Dale and about 15 other friends and family were in the Soi Bangla bar early on Saturday evening when Dale said he was not feeling well and plunged off the bar stool, hitting his head, soon after.
Had it been 2am or 3am, even some of his mates may have thought excessive fun might have had something to do with it. However it was 9.30pm, and the evening had just begun for the group.
Dale said today he'd had three beers and was halfway through a Jack Daniel's when he knew something was wrong. The nosedive followed soon after.
''We were having a good time up until then,'' Dale said. ''Last night was a bit different.''
While there have been reports of drinks being spiked on Phuket, victims have rarely come forward.
The spiking problem reached a tragic level earlier this week in Pattaya, where one tourist from Bangladesh died and two others were left in a coma when a local bar worker doped their drinks.
Nothing like that has been reported on Phuket, but observers speculate that Dale could have been drugged as a diversion for thieves, or in the hope he would keel over somewhere quieter where his wallet could be swiped.
Dale was eating his first hospital meal today when Phuketwan dropped by. His recovery was beginning.
And it would take more that a nosedive off a bar stool to prevent him walking his mother down the aisle.
The only question is, how will she pull up tomorrow after her hens' night on Phuket tonight?
Dale and others who were there reckon his drink was spiked. Nobody can say for sure, one way or the other.
The good thing is, he should be well enough the day after tomorrow to escort his mother Anni down the aisle on a Phuket beach as she weds.
The 24-year-old fisherman from Caloundra, on Australia's Sunshine Coast, reckons he and about 50 other family and guests have been having a wonderful time on Phuket this week.
''We've done lots of tours, Phi Phi, motorbike rides, snorkelling . . . it's been great,'' he said from his bed in the intensive care unit at Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City.
Anni, mother of eight, is due to wed plumber Geoff Holly on a Phuket beach this week. Dale, about an hour after waking from his long sleep, was too hazy still to remember the exact Phuket beach.
But as he is due to escort his mother down the aisle on the sand, someone is bound to set him straight quick.
Dale's dangerous night out came to light when a report was filed with Patong police for travel insurance purposes.
There is no saying with absolute certainty that his drink was spiked, but there's a strong suspicion that it was.
Dale and about 15 other friends and family were in the Soi Bangla bar early on Saturday evening when Dale said he was not feeling well and plunged off the bar stool, hitting his head, soon after.
Had it been 2am or 3am, even some of his mates may have thought excessive fun might have had something to do with it. However it was 9.30pm, and the evening had just begun for the group.
Dale said today he'd had three beers and was halfway through a Jack Daniel's when he knew something was wrong. The nosedive followed soon after.
''We were having a good time up until then,'' Dale said. ''Last night was a bit different.''
While there have been reports of drinks being spiked on Phuket, victims have rarely come forward.
The spiking problem reached a tragic level earlier this week in Pattaya, where one tourist from Bangladesh died and two others were left in a coma when a local bar worker doped their drinks.
Nothing like that has been reported on Phuket, but observers speculate that Dale could have been drugged as a diversion for thieves, or in the hope he would keel over somewhere quieter where his wallet could be swiped.
Dale was eating his first hospital meal today when Phuketwan dropped by. His recovery was beginning.
And it would take more that a nosedive off a bar stool to prevent him walking his mother down the aisle.
The only question is, how will she pull up tomorrow after her hens' night on Phuket tonight?
Pretty dangerous stuff. What is the name of the bar? It would be handy to know for other who could be in danger. I think its wise to only take out cash you need for the night and leave your wallet in the hotel safe or at home these days.
Posted by sateeb on May 20, 2012 21:25