BIS calls for donations for mugging victim

PHUKET CITY: The British International School Phuket (BIS) is asking for donations to help pay medical bills for Jake Carey, one of two BIS community members seriously injured in a motorbike crash that resulted from a violent mugging in Patong early Sunday morning.

The other victim was Carly Moorhouse, who graduated from BIS last week and is the daughter of well known local property developer Paul Moorhouse.

Dean Smart, a close friend of the couple who was out celebrating with them on Saturday night, told the Gazette that Jake, 21, and Carly, 17, were riding together on a motorbike in Patong about 3 am, after having eaten at Burger King.

As they were riding home along the beach road, two men on another motorbike pulled up from behind and pulled on Carly’s handbag in an attempt to steal it, he said.

The force of the pull caused the motorbike to crash into a wall opposite the Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, leaving Jake unconscious.

The thieves made off with the handbag, said Dean, who parted with the couple about an hour-and-a-half before the attack.

Carly and Jake were found by Tourist Police officers and taken to Patong Hospital for initial treatment. They were later transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket where they continue to recover.

Jake, who works for the BIS Flying Fish Swim Club as an instructor, suffered multiple injuries, including a concussion, a compound fracture of the leg requiring surgical implantation of a metal plate, a broken collar bone and bruised ribs.

Carly suffered liver damage and internal bleeding that required surgical removal of her spleen, as well injuries to her tongue, jaw and knee.

Also recently graduated from the school, Dean said that the attack had left the BIS community in shock, as nothing like it had ever happened before.

Carly had been planning to fly to Australia on Sunday, he said.

Today’s plea for financial assistance from BIS arises from the fact that Jake is uninsured, Dean said.

In today’s letter to BIS parents and guardians, BIS Head of Secondary Nick Botting writes, “Although Jake is making an excellent recovery, the extent of his treatment, including operations, means that a large hospital bill has now been amassed. In order to offset these significant costs, the Flying Fish Swim Club has agreed to make a large donation.

“Students can help out by attending Jake’s Football Bash, which will take place on Saturday, June 21. If you would like to make a contribution, please send donations in a sealed envelope to the Headmaster’s Office where a fund is being set up.”

The violence against Jake and Carly has occurred just three days after UK Ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle, on a visit to Phuket from Bangkok, told the Gazette that he was concerned about the current wave of crime against foreigners here. 

“[Safety] is one of the things I will be talking with the governor [of Phuket] about. Crime happens all over the world – we have a lot in Britain – but if there is a particular spate of attacks targeting tourists or targeting people on motorcycles, one would expect the authorities to take some countermeasures,” he said.