An Australian tourist died after being assaulted in Thailand. His funeral took place on April 16, 2010 in Adelaide, in the presence of his family and his Thai companion, Som, six months pregnant.
Andrew Oake, 28, has been on vacation for two months with his girlfriend in Prasat, near Surin, northeast of Thailand.
About four weeks ago, as the couple moved from village to village, they were taken by two men on a motorcycle. Som ran to seek relief while Mr. Oake was wounded on the arm and headed by a machete in what appears to have been an attempt to steal his belongings.
Roy Oake, the father of the victim, said his son was initially taken to a nearby hospital, but, as the tendons of his arm were severed, he was sent to Bangkok for surgery.
Andrew returned to Prasat, but later, another operation proved necessary and took place in Bangkok to treat an infection that had developed in the arm.
At this point, Oake says, the insurance company ordered her son to go back to Australia for treatment, otherwise she would stop paying hospital expenses.
Andrew died in the mini-bus that brought him back to Surin where he had to retrieve his passport.
Mr. Oake, who arrived this week in Thailand with his son’s brother and mother, said he hoped his son’s insurance would compensate and help Som and the baby.
The couple had been married last year according to customary ritual by local monks.
Their friend Travis Senne, an American living in Thailand, said police had still not arrested the attackers several weeks after the attack in this usually quiet district.
A spokesman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said his office was in contact with the victim’s family and would provide him with all necessary consular assistance.
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