**Update 02/10/23**

Dad was discharged yesterday from hospital after being in one for +6 weeks. This is good news and a combination of medication and follow up appointments to follow.

*Update 1130am 19/09/23**

Dad arrived safely approx. 0730am today in the UK and was then transported to Macclesfield General Hospital, where he has been since approx. 0915am today. He is doing well, has enjoyed an English Cup of Tea and is very tired so now resting!

The idea of this JustGiving page was to raise funds to help cover his repatriation and medical costs in/from Thailand, and it has done just that. On behalf of the whole family I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody, the support has been amazing.

Simon

**Update 1030am UK time 18/09/23**

Andrew is now leaving the hospital and will be on route to the airport soon. Due to seating requirements etc he is having to fly back via Dubai with Emirates Airlines, he takes off 1525pm UK time today and all being well will arrive in the UK 0750am Tuesday morning. Then onto Hospital.

You have ALL helped make this possible and we are all so very grateful.

**Update 1500pm UK time 15/09/23**

Andrew will begin his repatriation journey to the UK on Monday, arriving at Manchester early on Tuesday.

It has been a mammoth effort by everyone to get to this stage and it 100% would not have been possible without the help of JustGiving, messages of support, the donations and the Royal British Legion, who have been particularly helpful, especially in the past 48 hours.

Once in the UK, Andrew will be admitted to hospital to begin care and treatment for his conditions.

My sister if flying back from Thailand as I type this, and so Andrew is reliant on friends in Bangkok and at home to support him till he returns to Blighty.

Thank you SO much from the whole family. We are eternally grateful for everything.

Simon

**Update 1100am (Thai time +6 on UK time) 09/09/23

I am returning to UK today but leave Andrew in the good hands of the Thai hospital who continue to keep him stable and work toward getting him fit to meet the airlines medical assessment guidelines. We are using 247 Aviation for the repatriation efforts on recommendation of some of Dads ex colleagues and he has some work to do yet to be able to board a plane.

He still has my Sister (Sarah) with him Bangkok and the wider family in the UK are working hard to keep him motivated to get him back ASAP.

Thank you SO much for the very generous donations and kind words I have been receiving from his friends all over the world. Dad is extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the whole experience.

***Update 0630am (Thai time +6 on UK time) 03/09/23***

Probably a bit like my Dad/Andrew, I don’t think I often get overwhelmed, but I am not ashamed to say that I have well and truly been blown away (as has he) by the support in recent days.

I feel I owe an update to so many, so here we are;

19th Aug - Following a period of no contact, a few of us in the UK became concerned. Few more hours passed and my sister reached out to an old friend in Bangkok who eventually found his flat, gained access and found him a very bad way.

Since then we have learnt that he had/ has had, several serious issues going on in his body including sepsis, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, cellulitis, infection in legs, atrial defibrillation…. Like Dad, many of you are ex/medics and so will understand these more.

The overriding issue though is a ‘mass’ they’ve located on a CT scan in his left trachea, they suspect this to have starved the lung of oxygen and led to all the other issues and so this week has been focused on deciding what to do next.

The Thai hospital recommend to do a biopsy to establish what the 'mass' is g, but that carries risks, in addition to rendering him unable to fly for 6 weeks. Draining the P/E carries similar risks/flight issues. we have opted against this - mainly as the cost is unattainable.

So as it stands, he is clearly very unwell, he is weak, but fortunately his oxygen sats are at level he could fly and so this morning we where issued a ‘fit to fly certificate’ (with several conditions).

In addition, he still needs to do his bit and get stronger by improving his eating and strength. Physio begins tomorrow. Having Sarah and I here this week, has without doubt given him the motivation he needs to help make this happen.

Dad has been through and read all the comments on the justgiving page and he told me that he cannot put into words what the support means to him.

In terms of getting him back to UK it seems like it can all be done, and the family are working tirelessly to work this out logistically and financially. We are being quoted between £25-30k for this service. Your donations will go towards this cost. Please continue to forward and share with anyone who may know Andrew.

We have reached out the variou RAF related charities, this is being coordinated by his Brother and Sisters.

Thank you so much to every one x

Original post ...

Andrew is seriously ill in hospital in Thailand with conditions not covered by medical insurance.

We need to get him stable enough to be able to travel back to the UK for further, potentially life saving treatment. Andrew has been hospitalised since 20th August but still needs significant treatment and care before we consider repatriating him to the UK.

Before moving to Thailand in 2013, he served in the Royal Air Force for over 23 years in military bases in the Middle East, Cyprus and mainland Europe before retiring to move into similar roles as a civilian in the NHS and later teaching roles in and around Operating Theatres.

He is a proud, stubborn and private man and will hate all the attention this is bringing his way. He needs to rest and do as the medics tell him while his family battle away on his behalf in the background.

The reality of our current situation is that we are presented with significant medical bills from the hospital in Thailand and as a family are doing as much as we can to raise this.

Andrew has many friends who he keeps in contact with via social media. Many of you will know he celebrates his 66th birthday today (29th August) and his daughter Sarah has flown out to be with him. We would all like to see him celebrate many more!

Any support you can give, however small, under these incredibly difficult circumstances is very much appreciated

Thank you for reading.