Hartlepool friends' 'once in a life-time' holiday in Thailand turns to hell as they fear being stranded

Five friends on a “once-in-a-lifetime” holiday in Thailand fear they will be stranded without cash or medication because of the coronavirus lockdown.
By Fiona Thompson
Published 28th Mar 2020, 07:00 BST
Updated 28th Mar 2020, 14:03 BST
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Hartlepool women Joan Holland, 62, Kathleen Bell, 72, Joan Balderson, 78, Ellen Ashley, 70 and Patsy Short, 70, jetted from Newcastle to the eastern Gulf resort of Pattaya City on Tuesday, March 17.

A day later, the country was put into restricted measures, with just small shops open.

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Now the friends, who took the break to mark Patsy’s birthday, say they are in “limbo,” with no flights available and ever-decreasing amounts of cash.

The women booked a "once in a lifetime experience" but now say they are worried about what will happen to them next.The women booked a "once in a lifetime experience" but now say they are worried about what will happen to them next.
The women booked a "once in a lifetime experience" but now say they are worried about what will happen to them next.

They are worried they will run out of medication for their respective health issues, which include high blood pressure and arthritis, and fear they are at an increased risk of developing coronavirus because of their age and conditions.

Click here for an interactive map of how COVID-19 has had an impact on Hartlepool

They said they had been told by Hays Travel that flights back had been arranged, only for them to then be cancelled.

The group have struggled to reach any of their insurance companies as they try to get back home.

Joan Holland and Joan Balderson, pictured on their break, now have concerns about how they will get back to the UK.Joan Holland and Joan Balderson, pictured on their break, now have concerns about how they will get back to the UK.
Joan Holland and Joan Balderson, pictured on their break, now have concerns about how they will get back to the UK.
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“We don't know how long we are going to be here or what’s going to happen, nobody is telling us anything,” said Joan Holland.

“One of us has already had to ask her daughter to send her £300 by bank transfer because she’s running short.

“We can’t get hold of our insurance companies, we’ve tried ringing them and I’ve sent an email to mine, we just can’t get in touch with them.

“Our families are worried and will say ‘we told you not to go’ but we checked with the travel agent a week and then a day before and they said we would be fine.

Ellen Ashley and Patsy Short, pictured in Pattaya, where they and three friends now say they are in "limbo" as they try to get home to Hartlepool.Ellen Ashley and Patsy Short, pictured in Pattaya, where they and three friends now say they are in "limbo" as they try to get home to Hartlepool.
Ellen Ashley and Patsy Short, pictured in Pattaya, where they and three friends now say they are in "limbo" as they try to get home to Hartlepool.
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“We’ve saved up since last year for this because it was going to be a once in a life-time experience and we're never going to do it again – more so now.

“The hotel is fine, we're the only ones in, but we’ve looked at all avenues and we don’t know what else we can do.

"It's absolutely red hot, but that’s the only good thing about it.”

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Ellen Ashley, Kathleen Bell, Joan Holland, Joan Balderson and Patsy Short, front, are worried they will be struck in Thailand due to the coronavirus crisis. Photo with courtesy of Joan Holland.Ellen Ashley, Kathleen Bell, Joan Holland, Joan Balderson and Patsy Short, front, are worried they will be struck in Thailand due to the coronavirus crisis. Photo with courtesy of Joan Holland.
Ellen Ashley, Kathleen Bell, Joan Holland, Joan Balderson and Patsy Short, front, are worried they will be struck in Thailand due to the coronavirus crisis. Photo with courtesy of Joan Holland.

A spokesperson for Hays Travel said: “We have been working very hard to find a solution urgently.

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“We are in touch with the customers and doing everything we can to help get them back as soon as possible.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice is that anyone from the UK currently travelling abroad is strongly advised to return now, where and while there are still commercial routes available, as many airlines are suspending flights and many airports are closing, preventing flights from leaving.

Related topics:ThailandHartlepool