Latest news with #Pattaya
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Major update after two Aussie brothers were caught up in a wild brawl at a notorious party strip in Thailand
Two Australian brothers have surrendered to police in Thailand hoping to make amends after footage of a wild street brawl emerged. Carlos Anthony Madafferi, 25, and Isaac Biagio Madafferi, 20, turned themselves in on Monday night following the altercation in Pattaya earlier that morning. Police alleged the brothers and two Thai security guards from a bar attacked another tourist. Disturbing footage showed a group of men standing around the bloodied tourist. Tensions momentarily cooled before the tourist, seen with facial injuries, yelled after the group and held up two middle fingers. The gesture reignited the group's fury and they were seen pushing the tourist onto the road and kicking him. The brawl only ended when a passing motorcyclist wedged his vehicle between the group and the tourist to defuse the situation. The tourist, barefoot and with his shirt unbuttoned, got to his feet and appeared to call after the group as they walked away. The Madafferi brothers turned themselves into police on Monday night. Security guards Theerasak Phungjaingam, 40, and Wongmalai, 35, also handed themselves in. Police alleged the group confessed to participating in the fight at the station. Carlos also shared a message to the alleged victim. 'If you wake up today, please come and report at the police station or to a hospital because we want to take care of all expenses if we have done something wrong,' he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Thailand Police and Department of Foreign Affairs for further comment. The brawl occurred in the notorious coastal town of Pattaya, formerly dubbed Thailand's 'sin city'.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Why Brits shouldn't go abroad: From airport pranks and getting trapped in a bin to burying themselves in the sand and getting chomped by bears... the UK tourists who should have stayed home
Mischief, mess and madness. British tourists have a steady reputation abroad, not always for the right reasons. But after being buried in 8ft holes, stranded on buoys and mauled by bears, many do at least have the good humour to laugh it off and pick themselves back up. From the kayaker who became lost in the Channel for two days to the bored holidaymaker detained in Greece for taking over an airport loudspeaker system, sometimes we do only have ourselves to blame. These are the lighter stories of British adventurers getting it wrong and returning home with a story and little more than a scratch to show for it. Found stranded on a buoy off the coast of Thailand after 'morning swim' A British tourist in Thailand 's notorious city of Pattaya came unstuck after he became trapped on a large sea buoy after going for an early morning swim. Video from March 2023 showed the tourist clinging to a buoy, apparently intoxicated, off the Thai coast. The young man did not seem particularly unsettled by his predicament, however, and smiled with a thumbs up at a passing boat in an effort to catch a ride. The tourist, who did not give is name, wobbled slightly as he launched himself off the buoy to swim to the boat. Video showed him clambering onto the boat and staggering on the deck while trying to catch his breath. The young Brit, who appeared unsteady on his feet, told the captain of the boat: 'I wake up, I go 'oh good idea for a swim'.' 'I swim, swim, swim and then,' the Brit said before stopping to catch his breath. Boat captain Charawat Rasrikrit said the young man was unhurt and he returned him back to his hotel on the beach. 'I see a lot of tourists get into trouble here,' he said. 'I thought that maybe he had been out partying the night before and was still in a good mood in the morning. 'He was probably still a little bit drunk. A lot of tourists behave strangely when they come here.' This is the bizarre moment a British tourist who was clinging to a buoy two miles of the Thai coast flagged down a boat after he thought it would be a 'good idea' to go for a morning swim Rescued from waste container after getting stuck during 'drunken' prank in Malaga Emergency services had to be pulled away from their work after a British tourist became stuck in an underground waste container during a 'drunken' prank in Malaga in 2023. A local bar owner told police that the group of rowdy Brits had been taking it in turns to open up the lid of the underground ecological waste container and climb inside before one of them got trapped. The man's friends were heard shouting, 'Make yourself small' and 'Listen to me, your leg, get your leg up' as they realised getting out was harder than getting in. Tiggy, as his mates appeared to be calling him, seemed to be unfazed by all the attention, emerging with his shirt off but a smile on his face after being pulled out by firefighters to cheers from the crowds that had gathered round. One Spaniard observing the moments leading up to the successful rescue and its happy ending said: 'There are stupid people and then these.' 'They've put a lad in an underground waste container and they can't get him out. They've been trying to get him out for around the past half-hour. 'I don't understand these people who get drunk and do these sorts of things.' He added as 'Tiggy' emerged with a smile on his face: 'Here's the guy. My God, my god. Drunkenness, eh!' A local bar owner told police that the group of rowdy Brits had been taking it in turns to open up the lid of the underground ecological waste container and climb inside Rescued after 8ft hole dug on beach floods 'All that was going through my head was, this is it. I really thought I was going to die that day,' said Jensen Sturgeon, recounting the time he got stuck in an 8ft hole. Jensen, a baggage handler at Gatwick airport, was spending his 22nd birthday with friends in Rio de Janeiro in April when he became trapped. The group decided to spend the day on the iconic Copacabana Beach and, while his friends sunbathed, Jensen began digging a hole in the sand. Jensen was submerged in sand by the time he struck water, and feared for his life as the sand began to collapse around him. 'We got about eight feet deep and then obviously found water at that point and then it all just came down on me,' he told MailOnline in May. 'My head was even under the sand. I was trying to shout for my mates and I knew they couldn't hear me.' After fighting against the sand, Mr Sturgeon managed to free his head and call for help, with some 30 people gathering around him in a bid to get him out. 'I was quite scared,' Mr Sturgeon said. 'At one point I looked behind me and I could see a huge pile of sand. I thought if that fell on me that would be it. It took three hours for the crowd to rescue the tourist, using piece of wood, shovels and lengths of rope to pull him up to the surface. Stuck in the hot sun, well-intentioned onlookers handed him a beer at one point, which he drank. Mr Sturgeon said: 'When I got out I couldn't stand properly. Everyone was trying to talk to me but I just had to sit back down. My legs were so sore for the rest of the holiday.' Despite his ordeal, the Brit said didn't seek medical attention and will probably do it again. 'I think it's just a guy thing where you go to the beach and dig a hole,' he said. 'I feel like I will end up digging another hole on a beach.' Mauled by brown bear after stopping for photo A British woman's holiday in Romania took a horrifying turn as she was mauled by a brown bear from the supposed safety of her car. The 72-year-old woman from Scotland was driving on the Transfăgărășan mountain road in Argeş County, on April 22, when she came across two bears. She had stopped the car in the road to take a photo of the roaming beasts when one leaped up onto its hind legs. Undeterred, she then rolled down her window to get a better look, jolting the bear into pouncing forward and mauling her arm. The driver quickly accelerated away, but not before the bear could wound the passenger. She was taken from the scene to a nearby hospital for treatment, and later told reporters her arm was 'sore' after the run-in. The traveller did manage to get some stunning close-up photos of the animal - but it was a lucky escape from a potentially horrifying encounter. Hijinks at Greek airport sees mischievous Brit arrested A mischievous traveller in Greece was arrested after commandeering an airport loudspeaker system to - falsely - tell passengers their flights had been delayed. The British tourist was filmed jumping on the microphone at Zakynthos Airport in Zante in August 2022, informing passengers their flights had been pushed back by up to six hours. Video captured by a fellow passenger showed the playful Brit leaning into the microphone to announce to fellow passengers that the flight to Gatwick, which he intended to board, had been delayed. He said: 'The flight to Gatwick has been delayed by six hours.' He followed it up with more false flight information, adding: 'Unfortunately, the flight to Manchester has been delayed by six hours.' This announcement raised some confusion, as there was no flight from the Greek airport to Manchester scheduled on the day. But the fun ended as a security guard stormed over to confront the man. A police officer - equipped with a gun that at one moment he seemed to unclip - followed to back up the guard before escorting the cheeky passenger away from the gate. Sam Wilson, who filmed the video, said the prankster was ultimately released after being held briefly in an empty room. But he was not allowed on the plane back from Zante afterwards - a lesson for any copycats. Dislocated ribs after backflip goes wrong at Thai waterpark Callum Ryan's holiday to Thailand took a horrifying turn when the then-21-year-old landed badly from a backflip at a water park and dislocated his ribs. The tourist from Milton Keynes was at the Grand Canyon waterpark in Chiang Mai when he decided to try the inflatable assault course. The idea was simple enough: he would jump onto a big bouncy cushion and fly up into the air, spinning mid-flight before landing safely in the water. But as soon as he came down he knew something was wrong. 'I swam up underwater and the second I hit the air, I had a handful of blood,' he said. 'Straight away within two or three seconds, I coughed up a handful of blood and that went on for 30 minutes.' Callum's 'dodgy landing' had pushed his lungs into his ribs, causing his lungs to bleed. He and his girlfriend, Beth, left the waterpark, but it would be another three-and-a-half hours by coach before they reached Pye. He was so unwell when he arrived that he was taken to hospital - but it was shut. After what must have been a difficult night, he returned the next day and was X-rayed, for doctors to tell him he had dislocated his ribs and damaged his lungs. The agony would not end there, however, as Callum was told he would need to find another hospital to treat him. After another long coach journey out of Pye, they eventually reached Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital Hospital, where he could be dosed up on painkillers and helped. After two days of recovery in hospital, Callum was able to carefully go back to his life, continuing with Beth on their four month trip around Asia. Left clinging to buoy for two days after losing kayak A British kayaker had to be rescued after two days stranded in the Channel in 2022. The man, believed to be from Manchester, was rescued after being spotted by fishermen. He was taken for emergency treatment and authorities assessed he 'suffered from hypothermia, general fatigue and dehydration but given his good physical resistance, his general state of health is quite good'. Orlane Saliou, spokeswoman for the Maritime Gendarmerie, the French equivalent of the Coastguard, said it didn't appear that he was experienced. She added that his good physical fitness and the timely rescue had 'saved his life'. But she rubbished some media reports that he could have been lost at sea for as long as 12 days - as this would have been impossible to survive. 'His motives concerning this crossing are not very clear but it would seem that a sporting project should be discarded,' she said. The captain of the rescuing fishing boat said they were being mindful of getting too close to the buoy when he 'saw something crazy moving' near it, he told local media. Mr De Boer grabbed a pair of binoculars, and to his surprise saw the exhausted and distressed Briton wearing only a pair of swimming trunks 'waving at us like a madman', according to De Telegraaf. He was suffering from severe hypothermia when he was brought onboard with a body temperature of just 26C, Het Urkerland reports. A healthy human adult body runs at around 36C. A British man whose kayak had capsized when crossing the English Channel to France was rescued yesterday morning after fishermen found him clinging to a buoy for dear life Brit plunges into mud after trying to 'take a shortcut' during Maldives trip Martin Lewis was most preoccupied with not getting his sliders and cream trousers wet when he ended up completely submerged in a muddy gorge in the Maldives. Martin, from Somerset, was on holiday with hi wife, Rachel, on Fuvahmulah in 2021 when he misjudged a 'shortcut' and plunged down into the muddy water. In the clip, he can be seen slowly walking across mud before deciding to take off his slip-on shoes to avoid getting his feet getting stuck. 'I don't know how I'm going to get across, see my trousers are getting dirty,' he can then be heard saying in the video filmed by Rachael. 'Look at the state of my feet I've got to try and get over there.' Martin then takes a step forward into the murky brown water, but he then plunges into what is actually a huge waterlogged hole in the ground. His whole body is completely submerged in the water below for a few seconds as bubbles appear above. A couple of seconds later the unlucky holidaymaker reemerges at the surface - caked head-to-toe in mud. Martin's wife can be heard laughing hysterically as her husband clambers out the muddy swamp. 'I'll be honest, I knew that my feet were going to get wet, I even considered that perhaps the bottom of my trousers may also get wet and I thought it could make an amusing video, so my wife proceeded to film,' he said of the event. 'It was a total shock when I disappeared into the hole, and I kept going down, I think the hole may have been nine to 10 foot deep. Afterwards, he clambered out and sat composing himself - while his wife 'laughed for a good 10 minutes', he said. American exchange student has to be rescued after getting stuck inside giant stone vagina We are not alone! British holidaymakers may have a reputation for getting themselves into trouble, but mischief knows neither boundary nor border. In 2014, an American exchange student found himself in a bind after getting stuck in a stone statue of a vagina in Germany. He apparently wanted to take a 'funny photo' inside the campus art installation at Tubingen University, but was unable to wriggle free, pictured lying helpless on the floor. The scene caught the attention of a number of passersby - especially when a large contingent of emergency services were called to try and free him. His friend at the scene was also amused enough to take a few photos and post them online. Five emergency vehicles and 22 firefighters were said to have helped free the stuck student. The images were posted on Imgur under the title: 'My Friend Got Stuck in the Vagina Statue in Tubingen'. The sculpture was created by Peruvian artist Fernando de la Jara and is located outside Tubingen University's institute for microbiology and virology, in southwest Germany. Photographer Erick Guzman explained that his friend 'just wanted to take a funny picture in the vagina statue'. 'The Germans told us it was a normal thing to do!' The fire department found it less funny, Guzman conceded.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm an award-winning skydiver and woke up one day to find my left leg GONE... I'm itching to jump out of a plane again
An award-winning skydiver who recently woke up to find his leg had been amputated has recounted the horrific details of his ordeal - while revealing his plans to take to the skies for a world-record attempt this summer. German sportsman Olav Zipser, who lives in Thailand, visited the doctors after his toe turned blue and he was struck by a 'sudden and intense pain' in his foot. Medics diagnosed a blocked artery and removed a clot, but just hours after being discharged the 59-year-old was in agony again. Mr Zipser was rushed back to hospital but despite being in 'excruciating pain' he was denied entry because his insurance had not paid for the previous day's procedure. The Sports Emmy told MailOnline: 'From that point, things become a blur. I was left untreated in a foreign country, in a vulnerable and dangerous state. 'Over the next several days, I was shuffled through the public hospital system in Pattaya, heavily medicated with morphine, surrounded by chaos: overcrowded wards, patients lying on the floor, overwhelmed staff with no time and little to no English.' 'My foot turned black. My leg began to die. I woke up days later to find my left leg had been amputated above the knee.' Following the surgery in April Mr Zipser - known internationally as the pioneer of FreeFly - a skydiving discipline involving falling free in various vertical orientations – was discharged to be cared for by a friend. But, his torment was far from over as he still faced a gruelling and agonising road to recovery. 'I couldn't walk. I had no equipment. I crawled to the bathroom, balancing through the fog of pain and disbelief,' he recalled. Mr Zipser has now returned home to his studio by the sea in Cape Mae Pim where he continues to heal. 'The wound is healing well. The stitches have been removed, and I'm preparing to start rehabilitation, he said. 'One of the most surreal aspects has been the phantom limb pain. My brain refuses to accept the leg is gone. It hums constantly, like a great church bell ringing inside my nerves,' he added. Now, the sportsman has revealed he intends to defy all odds to take part in a daring world record attempt. Despite having to crawl to the bathroom just weeks ago Mr Zipser is planning to travel to Chicago to be involved in 'the most complex human formation ever attempted in the sky'. The extraordinary feat will see Mr Zipser try to link hands with 200 elite skydivers while free falling at nearly 300 km/h. If successful he will be the first amputee to take part in such a record. However, Mr Zipser will need to overcome many challenges to achieve his goal and has just weeks to adapt to a new way of flying. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover his medical expenses which include a new prosthetic leg. An extract from the page read: 'We adapt. We overcome. We fly again. And this isn't the end of the journey—it's just a new chapter. I will continue as a FreeFly Pirate of the sky. Ra ra ra! 'There's still sky to dance through, clouds to carve, and minds to free.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The deadly paradise luring in Brits: The worrying surge in UK holidaymakers of all ages getting caught up in bar brawls, drug smuggling, spiked drinks, lethal boat trips, and fatal violence in Thailand
Thousands of British holidaymakers have swapped the sandy beaches of the Costa del Sol for the cheap booze and breathtaking geography of Thailand in recent years. Today, Brits account for around 20% of all visits to the country, which has proven keen to welcome foreigners against the tide of anti-tourist rhetoric in Europe. But British visitors, drawn in by the promise of adventure on a budget, have warned of fresh perils travelling the south Asian country. In recent months, returning travellers have been stopped at airports accused of trafficking drugs, believed to have been exploited by powerful gangs. Only last week, a tourist from Manchester was left fighting for his life after allegedly being stabbed and thrown from a car in the notorious hotspot, Pattaya. And over the years, more than a dozen Western tourists have been reported to have died on the sinister 'Death Island' Koh Tao, often in mysterious circumstances. Thailand has a reputation among Brits as a quiet retirement destination and a rite of passage for gap year students seeking cheap thrills. But the growing array of Brits caught up in violent crime, unexplained deaths and drug trafficking adds an unsettling dimension to Asia's 'Land of Smiles'. David Miller and Hannah Witheridge met only by chance during their holidays to the picturesque island of Koh Tao in late 2014. David was a Jersey based civil engineer and structural engineering graduate. Hannah was studying for a masters degree in speech and language therapy at the time of her death. The pair were staying with friends in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, modest accommodation overlooking the sand and surf of Sairee Beach. After leaving a bar in the early hours of September 15, 2014, David and Hannah walked down to a nearby beach when they were attacked. Hannah was raped and beaten to death. Miller was bludgeoned, sustaining wounds to the head, and left to drown. They were found next to each other on the beach as the sun rose. Their deaths on the island reverberated around the world, prompting close scrutiny of a series of unexplained tragedies that followed. Koh Tao, it transpired, had long had a reputation as a haven for organised crime and corruption, where an allegedly 'corrupt' police force prioritised protecting local interests over full disclosure of events. Little has changed. The death of a young Irish diver earlier this year provoked a flurry of concern. The Thai Examiner noted that, 'significantly', the death was not being reported in the mainstream Thai press. Many deaths, they said, are only uncovered by later reports from their home country or formal death notices. In March, a tourist boat burst into flames and sank off the coast of the island with a British backpacker still on board. Police revealed that a crew member was filling scuba oxygen tanks with compressed air close to the boat's engine room when one of them exploded, causing the blaze. They detained the captain and crew member, citing 'negligence' in their preliminary investigation. But Koh Tao is only a microcosm of threats to tourists across the country. Police in Pattaya - an east coast hotspot renowned for its nightlife, debauchery and lax law enforcement - are currently on the hunt for a group of mystery attackers believed to have stabbed a British tourist and hurled him from a car. Andrew Joseph Cook, 36, from Manchester, was thrown to the pavement, covered in blood, on Friday, before the driver allegedly stabbed him. Medics rushed to the scene and applied bandages to catastrophic bleeding that continued to seep through the dressings. The left side of his face had sustained a deep 10cm gash, while his chest and abdomen were slashed so severely that internal fat protruded. Mr Cook was given first aid treatment before being taken to Pattaya Pathomkhun Hospital, where he was in intensive care on Saturday. Earlier this year, another British tourist returned home to warn of his 'holiday from hell' in the city, claiming he was robbed, beaten up by police, handcuffed in a cell and left to lie in his own urine after walking into a sign. Andrew Hopkins, 55, told MailOnline he had accidentally knocked into the entrance sign to his neighbours' residence. He was confronted by security and apologised, but things took a violent turn when police arrived. 'They threw me onto the back of a pick-up truck and locked me in a cell for around 36 hours,' Andrew told the MailOnline. 'An English guy in there told me to just do what they say, and they'd let me go. Eventually, an Italian man arrived and told me I had to pay 15,000 baht [£360] in cash to be released.' Andrew languished in a filthy cell before being released. When he was eventually freed, he returned to his AirBnb to find his money and valuables had vanished. The wife of the host flew into a rage and police arrived again, allegedly 'attacking' Andrew and hauling him off to jail again. He was stripped of all his belongings and handcuffed to the bars of his cell. Left lying on a grimy floor with his arm raised and bound to the bars if his prison cell, Andrew was forced to urinate over himself. 'I shouted for help. No one came,' he said. 'It was disgusting and there was no way to treat a human being'. Eventually, police officers released him. Again, he claimed, his possessions and money had been stolen in his absence. 'They call it the Land of Smiles, but my experience is that they're only friendly while you're paying,' he reflected. 'Tourists are seen as easy targets to be fleeced and robbed.' 'If you ever find yourself in trouble there – stay calm, don't raise your voice, and do not, under any circumstances, question their authority.' The story is not unique. A British holidaymaker in March described being chained up and beaten in a Thai police cell after, he believes, being spiked with a psychoactive drug. Lewis Green was arrested on January 24 - the day before he was due to fly home from a eight-week solo trip around the South Asian country - and suffered fractured ribs, a broken wrist and foot lacerations. He was also forced to drink his own urine in his damp cell at the Hua Hin Police Station and was only released after paying a £7,000 'bribe'. The builder, from Staffordshire, believes he may have been deliberately targeted by crooks and spiked with a powerful hallucinogenic drug known as Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, in order to make him an easy target. Lewis believes either his drink was spiked with the drug, it was injected into him or administered by a 'spiked vape'. He told MailOnline that his time in prison was 'terrible': 'My arms were chained up and I was handcuffed to the prison bars. 'You don't get fed any food or given any water. I had to start drinking water off the floor because they turned the tap on and flooded the cell and left the water in there for days.' 'I was chained up so every time I needed to use the toilet I had to go on the floor then drink the water I'd peed in. 'One day six of them [officers] came in the cell and just started punching me, beating the s*** out of me. I just covered myself as best I could. 'I was just lucky I was able to pay my way out but there were a lot of British and American lads out there getting caught up in stuff like this.' Spiking fears have come into focus since the deaths of six tourists in neighbouring Laos late last year. British tourists died after taking shots believed to have contained methanol at a hostel in Vang Vieng. But tourists warn that poor quality spirits in Thailand, too, have seen visitors losing their memory and acting out of character. British grandmother Janet West, from Swansea, recalled blacking out and ending up roaming her hotel naked for hours after drinking from a 'spiked' bucket of alcohol during the Thai New Year in 2019. She said that she had been drinking what she thought was whisky and coke from a bucket in Bangkok, before heading off to bed. Ms West said that she thought she had dreamt about being escorted back to her room by hotel staff. But she later discovered it wasn't a dream. They told her she had been wandering around naked for four hours. She later recalled she believed she was a pregnant teenager and had to get transport to a special delivery unit. She came to when hotel staff noticed her trying to leave the building and ushered her back up to her room, she was later told. She said: 'On that visit we were buying buckets of whisky and coke but I haven't a clue what we were really drinking. 'Afterwards people told me it was ethanol, because of the incomplete distillation process.' 'I was lucky to survive and to have no side effects but I'm frightened to drink the local spirits in Thailand now,' said Janet, who previously worked in a bar. 'The local alcohol is not distilled properly and, although it's cheap, it's not worth the risk - stick to imported spirits or bottled beer.' Thailand is renowned for its nightlife, and has done much to cater to the desires of Western tourists seeking to pay tribute to their hedonistic impulses in recent years. But bars and bravado have brought their own baggage. Street fights involving British tourists have been widely reported, presenting more risk to onlookers. British holidaymakers were implicated in a brawl in Phuket on May 11, alleged to have fled from a bar after stabbing a French tourist. Police said that a fight broke out inside a restaurant between a group of men, with tourists and security trying to intervene. The fight spilled out into the street, where 23-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Jugurtha Nubel Khaleche was allegedly stabbed. Only in December, a British man was arrested in Thailand on suspicion of stabbing a Japanese tourist to death after a street brawl. David Maensiri, 36, was said to be having a row with his girlfriend in Pattaya on December 29 when Japanese passer-by Seita Tanabe, 27, attempted to intervene. David was alleged to have attacked the holidaymaker before stabbing him. Medics arrived on scene to find Seita with a deep stab wound in his chest. He was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. The Brit was described as drunk and remorseless, and he even flashed a rock-and-roll hand sign at the cops while he was sitting in the back of the truck. The Brit was described as drunk and remorseless, and he even flashed a rock-and-roll hand sign at the cops while he was sitting in the back of the truck Experts warn that, beyond getting swept up in street brawls, British visitors to Thailand are at risk of becoming ensnared in organised crime. The arrests of British nationals Bella Culley, 18, and Charlotte May Lee, 21, in Georgia and Sri Lanka respectively after travelling from Thailand has renewed suspicions that gangs are using native holidaymakers to act as drug mules, crossing borders with huge shipments of narcotics. Jemal Janashia, a former police general in Georgia and one of the country's top drug crime experts, told the Mail that local investigators reviewing Culley's case will be keen to explore 'the possibility of a link' between the two cases - and, hauntingly, 'that Thai gangs may be attempting to recruit vulnerable British travellers'. In recent months, dozens of British nationals have been stopped at borders - ports and airports - in Europe, accused of trying to bring huge quantities of cannabis into the country. In the space of just two weeks of last year, more than 260kg of cannabis was found in suitcases at UK airports, carried by passengers arriving from Bangkok, SCMP reported. Some 800 people, including as many as 50 British nationals, were 'intercepted' between October 2024 and March 2025. British nationals have been among those police have detained on suspicion of orchestrating complex networks of smugglers in and out of the country. But the pattern of young people - often teenagers or people in their early twenties - being detained at borders has raised concerns that backpackers are being recruited to move drugs. Thailand has become a top global holiday destination, welcoming tens of thousands of Brits every year hoping to soak up the sun and unwind in peace - or, indeed, let off some steam. But the getaway is not without its troubles. Reports of bar brawls, drug smuggling, spiked drinks, lethal boat trips and fatal violence have marred the country's reputation as a relaxed, affordable paradise. The Land of Smiles remains a desirable destination for British holidaymakers seeking a change of pace.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Associated Press
Amari Pattaya: An Extraordinary Seaside Escape Awaits
PATTAYA, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 May 2025 - Amari Pattaya is one of the premier properties managed by ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading Southeast Asian management company specialising in hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences. Renowned for its warm and vibrant hospitality, the hotel delivers a thoughtfully curated guest experience that makes every stay memorable. Discover a Seamless Fusion of Contemporary Thai Elegance and Coastal Charm Amari Pattaya is a beachfront retreat that flawlessly blends the warmth of Thai hospitality with contemporary elegance and the charm of the Eastern Sea. Nestled in the tranquil setting of North Pattaya Beach, the hotel features a refined yet relaxing design that sets it apart. With 339 thoughtfully designed rooms in a variety of styles, the hotel offers an exceptional stay for every kind of traveller — whether it's a romantic escape, a business trip, or a family adventure, each guest is welcomed with comfort, convenience, and style. Every room at Amari Pattaya offers generous space and an airy feel, and is filled with natural light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that give stunning views of the sea and rolling waves of the Gulf of Thailand. As evening falls, guests can unwind with a romantic, sweeping 180-degree panoramic sunset view that creates a perfect moment of relaxation and repose. Set amid lush greenery, Amari Pattaya offers a refreshing sense of calm that enhances every stay. Couples can enjoy romantic moments beneath swaying trees and sea breezes, while families can relax and reconnect in the resort's tranquil natural surroundings. Guests can unwind beside the expansive pool shaded by tropical foliage or embrace the energy of the on-site water park, complete with slides and rides that promise fun for all ages. For younger guests, the Tree House Kids' Club provides a vibrant space of imagination and play—an inviting haven where children are free to explore, create, and enjoy every moment. After a day of excitement and exploration, guests can unwind and indulge in a memorable culinary journey at Amari Pattaya, where diverse dining experiences await to satisfy every palate. The hotel offers a diverse selection of meticulously crafted dishes, designed to leave a lasting impression. Amaya Food Gallery showcases a diverse selection of authentic Thai, Asian, and international cuisines, with each dish thoughtfully crafted using locally sourced ingredients as the key inspiration behind its exquisite menus. Prego brings the rich flavours of authentic Italian cuisine to life through refined dishes crafted by Chef Marco Boscaini, inspired by cherished childhood memories of cooking alongside his grandmother. Each dish is expertly crafted using premium ingredients, offering guests an authentic taste of traditional Italian cuisine at its finest. Aqua Eatery & Bar is the perfect spot to soak up the sun by the pool while enjoying vibrant, colourful drinks surrounded by lush greenery. Club Napha offers an elevated experience on the luxurious 19th floor, where guests can enjoy a delightful breakfast or indulge in afternoon tea with light snacks—all while taking in the stunning panoramic views of Pattaya Bay. For health-conscious travellers, the FIT Centre at Amari Pattaya offers a modern fitness space equipped with high-quality, state-of-the-art equipment, enabling guests to maintain their wellness routine and stay energised throughout their stay. Maai Spa offers a luxurious and revitalising retreat, inspired by the graceful transformation of silkworms into butterflies. Here, the art of relaxation is elevated through therapeutic practices that blend contemporary Thai techniques with carefully chosen natural ingredients—deeply nourishing both body and mind, and leaving a profound sense of relaxation, refreshment, and inner radiance. In addition, Amari Pattaya offers versatile event spaces ideal for business gatherings and conferences, with medium to large banquet facilities designed to meet a range of needs. The elegant Grand Ballroom can host up to 500 guests, while those seeking a vibrant seaside celebration can enjoy an outdoor venue that accommodates up to 700 attendees. Thanks to its prime beachfront location, Amari Pattaya invites guests to enjoy a range of outdoor activities surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Start the day with a peaceful jog along the beach under the morning sun, or dive into the thrill of water sports—from riding a jet ski through the sparkling blue waves and feeling the refreshing sea breeze, to soaring above the shoreline on a parachute for a breathtaking view of Pattaya or exploring the stunning underwater world with snorkelling adventures in nearby popular natural spots. For those seeking romance and luxury in the evening, a sunset yacht cruise across the calm waters of the Gulf of Thailand offers an unmissable experience. Additionally, the ideal way to conclude a relaxing day is by shopping or enjoying a delightful dinner at one of the many excellent local restaurants just a short distance away. Celebrate summer with a vibrant and joyful experience at Amari Pattaya, a destination that promises to create extraordinary moments and unforgettable vacation memories. For more information, call 038 418418 or visit Hashtag: #ONYX #AmariPattaya The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
