Thailand - Unexplained fatalities 7 tourists died at 1 hotel

[WiganLady]

I was listening to Radio 2 today and they were talking about a NewZealand lady aged 23 who died at The Downtown Inn Hotel in Chiang Mai, her 2 friends also nearly died. It turns out that 6 previous guests including an elderley British couple have died at the same hotel since January 2011. The NZ girls father has set up a website to bring awareness to tourists going to Thailand, called www.thailandtraveltragedies.com.
After reading several posts from people it seems like tourist areas in Thailand are quite dangerous, my gut feeling is that these poor tourists have been killed by something in the water, and definitely not food. On Radio 2 an expert in toxic poisoning said that the NZ girls heart was inflated and her illness was sudden, he said these were not the symtpons of food poisoning more likely a toxic solution. Scary stuff, and news that is not reported widely in the media.

I've travelled extensively in Thailand (as have my DC, both with me and as independent travellers) and I have NEVER drunk the tap water. Why on earth would anyone drink the water in a country where the water is not guaranteed as pure and where there are lead water pipes? Bottled water is widely available in Thailand, but you need to check the plastic seals on the bottle caps.

So sad about the deaths but after reading more about the story I think there maybe more to this.

Agree with apples, we lived in Thailand for four years and never drank any tap water. Ours, in Bangkok was supposedly safe to drink but we didn't chance it.
Wiganlady, obviously some places in Thailand are unsafe but you could say the same about the UK too couldn't you?

kreecherlivesupstairs, I think the difference between the UK and Thailand are the police, if you read some of the stories posted on the website it seems that Thai police are very corrupt and murders are never solved due to this problem. A friend of my DH was nearly garrotted and his male friend was poisoned and died in Pattaya a few years ago, no one was caught for the crime. I think here in the UK you stand a better chance of justice.

Wiganlady - what is the point of your original post? Is it about the tragic deaths in Chiang Mai or do you want to make another point? Thailand is a beautiful country, full of wonderful people (I, and my DC, have many Thai friends, both in the UK and Thailand). I agree that the police may be corrupt by UK standards and that the judicial system may be flawed, but you could say that about dozens of other countries in the world!

Kreecher is right, there are many places in the UK that are unsafe.....

i am wondering the same

i have traveled extensively aroudn Thailand too and absolutely love the country and the people. i can't wait to take ds there. yes there maybe corruption within the police force but a thai friend of mine said this is the way in thailand, you pay back handers for things, if you look rich you may be charged more but its the same in many countries especially poorer countries but go to someoenes house and they will share everythign with you.

if anything has spoil thailand its the tourist industry and the many who go there for the sex industry, its very sad as many of the girls come from very poor families. there was a picture in one of the papers last year (i think it was the sun) that had a european guy with a young thai woman slung over his shoulders carrying her along a busy street. that picture really summed up how some parts of thailand have become and its so sad, something the thai's themselves are baffled, angry and saddened by (or the ones i have meet)

Yes the police are corrupt and yes it has become a playground for sexpats, but it does remain a beautiful country with lovely lovely people.

Thailand is a developing country so has its problems. If you travel to such countries you have to be aware they do not have the same facilities as the more developed countries. When things go wrong, they usually go really wrong.However most people who have done their research enjoy their experience.

methinks wiganlady has a different agenda....

Me too apples. I occasionally moderate a forum in Thailand, one of the more outlandish suggestions regarding these deaths is poisened or tainted toothpaste and shampoo.