Family anguish at £200,000 bill to fly coma father home

THE family of a Scot in a coma in Thailand fears that he will die alone as they cannot afford to fly him home.

Allan Hyne, 63, from Buckie in Aberdeenshire, is being treated in Bangkok after being struck down with a life-threatening virus in August.

Last night his son, also called Allan, said: "The week he became ill was the week he was due to come home.

"He had taken early retirement in July after working in Thailand for around six years as an engineering manager."

Mr Hyne said he visited his father in September and his condition had remained unchanged since then.

"There has been no improvement. His condition is still life-threatening. It's a virus.

"It was quoted that it would cost between 150,000 and 200,000 to fly him home. It's very difficult to contact the hospital – there are very few people who speak English."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are offering consular assistance to the family."