A French tourist, who was visiting Thailand for the first time, hired a car to take him to Tao resort island in Surat Thani, but the driver took him to Doi Tao in Chiang Mai instead, due to miscommunication.
He was dropped off in Lamphun before reaching Chiang Mai and persuaded a vegetable truck driver to take him Ratchaburi.
Bad luck struck again when he left his wallet at a filling station in Muang district of Suphan Buri. Thanks to the help of a police officer in Song Phi Nong district, the Frenchman’s run of bad luck ended as his wallet was returned intact.
This happy result was reported on social media on Wednesday by Pol Captain Teerapat Modjod, of Song Phi Nong district police. His help for the unfortunate Frenchman has won plaudits from many people online.
On the way to Chiang Mai, the 22-year-old tourist, identified only as Jack, must have realised that he was heading in the wrong direction.
In Lamphun, he tried to hail a public transport vehicle to take him to the island, but no vehicles were available. So, a kind truck driver gave him a lift to Ratchaburi.
Fortunately, someone found the wallet and reported the find to Muang district police and that it might belong to a Frenchman travelling in a vegetable truck.
The police then radioed ahead to police at other stations in the province, asking them to stop the truck, which officers in Song Phi Nong district did and returned the wallet.
Teerapat, the officer attached to Song Phi Nong district police, also arranged accommodation for Jack for the night, before he continued his journey to Tao Island the next morning.
Teerapat’s superior praised him for his good deeds and urged other officers to do likewise when they come across someone desperately in need of help.
