A missing son...

[Vital Spark]

A friend in the UK contacted me for some advice to help a friend of hers. The mother is extremely worried, so if anyone can help in any way, please contact me by either a pm or email at ajarnlinda at gmail dot com. Here's the story from the East Anglian Daily Times.


Kelsale: Tom Armstrong reported missing after failing to return from Thailand
Monday, January 14, 2013
3:03 PM

POLICE are growing increasingly concerned over the whereabouts of a 22-year-old who failed to board his flight home to Suffolk from Thailand.
Tom Armstrong, 22, of Kelsale, left for Thailand in April last year to take up a dive master course on the island of Koh Tao.
He had been in contact with his family via email and Facebook, and told them he would be catching a flight home on Tuesday, January 8, arriving at Heathrow the following morning. However, he did not board his flight and has not been in contact since.
Tom’s family and police are concerned about his whereabouts and are appealing for any information that would indicate where he is, and that he is alive and well.
Tom is described as about 6ft 2in, of medium build with fair, slightly wavy medium length hair, and sometimes has a short beard, which is more red than fair in colour.
If anyone has information that could help police with their investigations they are asked to contact the Suffolk Police on 101.

If you click on this link you can also see a photo of him: http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/kelsale_tom_ ... _1_1791982

Let's hope there's a happy ending to this story.

VS

[kendo]

Hi VS, how about posting a picture and also tell his family to post on Facebook and Twitter, social media is a very powerful tool.

Good luck i hope he is safe and well and contacts his family soon.

Kendo.

[Siani]

It must be very worrying, I do hope he is alright. I agree with Kendo, put his picture on Facebook...it is the place where all the younger people chat. Maybe someone has seen him. I copied the picture...here it is...

2167370408.jpg (25.18 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

[margaretcarnes]

There's no mention in that newspaper article about any involvement with the Embassy VS. I'm sure the UK police will do their best and be in touch with Thai police and/or the Embassy themselves, but if nothing comes from that very soon it might need a relative to fly out there and liaise direct. Which might not be easy I know. But it doesn't look good I'm afraid. Have you posted on the other forum as well?

[Takiap]

Well, I too hope this story has a happy ending. There are so many possible reasons for him not arriving back in the UK when he was meant.

[christopher1]

A friend of mine and her 2 sons have just completed various dives on Koh Tao.
They were there for a month. I'll send her the link.
Chris.

PS. Link sent.

[STEVE G]

Well, I too hope this story has a happy ending. There are so many possible reasons for him not arriving back in the UK when he was meant.

Yes and to look on the bright side, far more people willingly disappear in Thailand than come to an unfortunate ending.

[christopher1]

I've had a reply from my friend who, with her 2 sons was staying on Koh Tao over the holiday period...Here's part of what she wrote.
Hmmm...lots of parties going on at the New Year etc, he wasn't a person I recognise but Koh Tao iwas hooching with people.. would suggest forwarding this to any of the Dive Centres on Koh Tao...does the mum know which one was running the course...if so get in touch with them directly, as they might well know exactly where he is or whom he's shacked up with... not being funny but I missed a plane home once simply because I was having an excellent time and didnt want to go home...but he could have told her...or unfortunately something might have happened to him...which would be awful....I cannot post but you can...suggest as above???

Hope this is of some help.
Chris.

[Vital Spark]

Thanks for all your constructive comments everyone, especially Christopher1. I don't know the lad, or his mum, personally, but the more people that can keep an eye open for him the more chance there may be of some kind of closure.

There's been an update in the UK newspapers that he had apparently got into some kind of bother in Bangkok, but no details of what the 'bother' was. He's young, and possibly/hopefully enjoying all the kinds of crazy things that youngsters can do here. Another nationwide forum has posted his details, and the dive club he was training at have posted a notice on their Facebook page.

Fingers crossed he's OK.

VS

[margaretcarnes]

If true about the bother in Bangkok VS that does narrow it down a lot - which can only help. Let's keep everything crossed for him.

[Vital Spark]

I've just read this on a news website in the UK:

"It is believed that Tom is still in Thailand, possibly in the Bangkok area. Records show that money was withdrawn from his bank account, at an address in Bangkok on Wednesday 16 January."

It's a pity that they weren't more precise about the location of the ATM, and surely there must be cameras which would show whether or not it's him withdrawing the money.

If it is him, then he needs a right clip around the ear. If it isn't him, then how did someone get his PIN number?

VS

[Siani]

I've just read this on a news website in the UK:

"It is believed that Tom is still in Thailand, possibly in the Bangkok area. Records show that money was withdrawn from his bank account, at an address in Bangkok on Wednesday 16 January."

It's a pity that they weren't more precise about the location of the ATM, and surely there must be cameras which would show whether or not it's him withdrawing the money.

If it is him, then he needs a right clip around the ear. If it isn't him, then how did someone get his PIN number?

VS

I hope that someone else has not got access to his account. Most ATM machines have cameras, maybe the parents could contact the bank and see who drew out the money. Where are the police? Surely they should look into this. Also there will be a record of which ATM was used, the banking system is very up to date these days. Look at the photos...ask about the account number and card etc. I do hope he is ok..fingers crossed.

[margaretcarnes]

You're right Siani, the UK bank (assuming it is a UK one) will have a date, time and location of the ATM withdrawal. I would have thought the UK police would be able to get that info.
I did read at the weekend that a couple of his family were planning to go to Thailand, so let's hope he can be found soon.

[Nereus]

It has just made the news in the Bangkok Post:

Missing UK man's bank touched

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... nk-touched
Money has been withdrawn from the home bank account of a British man missing in Thailand for more than two weeks, UK police said on Tuesday.

Tom Armstrong, 22, of Suffolk, disappeared after finishing a dive master course at Koh Tao earlier this month. He was supposed to leave Thailand for home on Jan 8, but never showed up in Britain.


Authorities in Britain said they believed Mr Armstrong was still in Thailand, but are increasingly concerned for his welfare, according to an online report by the East Anglican Daily Times.

Police found that money had been withdrawn from Mr Armstrong's British bank account by someone in Bangkok a week ago.

It quoted a local policeman, detective chief inspector Neil Luckett, as saying police "remain concerned about his welfare and we are urging anyone with information about Tom, in the UK or Thailand, to come forward.

"If Tom is reading this I would urge him to contact us and let us know he is safe," the policeman added."

The newspaper quoted his mother as saying Mr Armstrong kept in regular touch after he arrived in Thailand last April for the diving course, but has not been in contact since Jan 8.

[STEVE G]

Where are the police? Surely they should look into this. Also there will be a record of which ATM was used, the banking system is very up to date these days. Look at the photos...ask about the account number and card etc.

I understand the families concern about the situation but keep in mind that a 22 year old using his own ATM card, if he is, is a private matter that has nothing really to do with the Police. Obviously if someone else is using the card that is a different thing all together. Also, even if the Police locate this man, if there is nothing criminal involved he could choose to stay lost in Thailand if he so wishes.
I'm not saying that is a good thing, just pointing out that he may be making a personal choice that he has every right to do as an adult.