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Travel agent’s son caught up in Thai flood chaos
The son of Spears Travel managing director Peter Cookson is one of the tourists stranded in floods in Thailand.
He has been stranded on the island of Koh Tao for the last three days and his father now fears he is starting to get dysentery.
Concerned Cookson has been in regular contact with his son, who told him it was “chaos over there”.
In their latest conversation, his son reported that the Thai navy ship that was sent to rescue those stranded had to abandon its rescue mission because it was attacked by the tourists who are are desperate to get off the island.
“There are now no guarantees that they will come back to help again tomorrow as a result,” said Cookson.
“Everywhere is flooded, there’s no electricity, water or internet."
The floods in the southern coast of Thailand have killed 15 people and have left thousands of tourists stranded.
As well as Koh Tao, the popular island resorts of Krabi, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have also been hit.
According to BBC reports, some 13,000 holidaymakers are said to have been stranded on Koh Samui alone.
Flights have been grounded and ferry services disrupted due to rough seas.
The Foreign Office is warning there is continued risk of mudslides and flash flooding.
Electricity and communications are currently disrupted across the region.
British nationals who need urgent assistance can call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on +44 (0)20 7008 5355 or the Thai Tourist Police on 1155 (+66 2 214 1956 if you are using a UK mobile in Thailand).
See earlier story
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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