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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Jacob Phillips

British tourist dies after holiday illness left him stuck in Thai hospital

A British tourist who was left stranded in a Thai hospital when he fell ill on holiday, has died weeks after he returned to the UK.

Dean Penson became unwell in November on the island of Phuket in the south of Thailand and had to have blood and platelet transfusions, with doctors fearing he had leukaemia.

The 41-year-old faced "horrific" conditions at the Vachira Phuket Hospital as he did not have holiday insurance, the MailOnline reported.

Doctors reportedly discovered Mr Penson had an extremely low blood count, which meant that he had to undergo around 20 transfusions over the next ten days. 

His friends previously said the infirmary had puddles of blood on the floor, needles on the ground and people dying just feet away from him each day.

Dean's friend Ben Page set up a fundraiser to pay for Mr Penson’s treatment abroad and to get him back to the UK.

Mr Page previously said his friend was “struggling to see, as he has had a bleed behind both eyes due to blood-thinning”.

He was forced to fly to Thailand as hospital staff said someone needed to escort Mr Penson home.

Over £11,000 was raised for the British tourist and he was able to fly back to the UK.

He was admitted to Southend Hospital in Essex, near where he lived, on November 30, but he passed away at the hospital on Friday.

Mr Page announced: “Been at the hospital a couple of hours ago and I'm afraid Dean's not with us anymore.

“It's very sad news. Amazing person. Loved him loads. Best mate in the whole world.”

He added: “A few complications, a few things. He had a very rare blood disorder as well.

“He couldn't create platelets and bone marrow.

“We're all going to miss him with all our hearts. He was the soul of the party.”

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