UDON THANI – People in Udon Thani were left saddened after an elderly Australian man’s story came to light. His long marriage to a local woman ended in heartbreak, tied up with addiction, poor health and loss.aus
The man’s wife became so unwell from drug use that local officials placed her in a rehab centre. Left with just 1,520 baht (about $47), the Australian man reached out through the media to ask for help getting back to Australia.
Bunthom Sorampha, the village head, notified local reporters about the man’s situation. He shared how the couple had lived together for many years, but everything changed after the wife’s methamphetamine use worsened. Once she was sent to rehab, the husband was left alone and helpless.
Their large two-story house sat on over an acre but was now run-down and messy. Upstairs, Marcus—who lost his left leg in a recent car accident—showed old photos of his family in Australia. He wanted to go home on 12 August 2025.
Marcus had been married to 45-year-old Phikul for more than ten years. In the past, they moved between Australia and Thailand. The accident pushed them to settle in Udon Thani.
He explained he was once financially secure, but after Phikul’s addiction, all his savings—including over 4 million baht from selling his Bangkok home—vanished. He trusted Phikul to manage their money, but it was soon gone.
I Want to Go Home
Marcus said he missed his son and sister in Australia. “I don’t know what to expect, but I have no one left here,” he admitted. Asked if he would wait for Phikul to finish rehab, Marcus said no. “I want to go home. I can’t stay here,” he said.
Bunthom shared that days earlier, Phikul had been taken away after a public breakdown. Locals filmed her in distress, which led to her being sent to a rehab centre. With Marcus alone, nearby villagers began bringing him food and looking for ways to help him return to Australia.
On 13 August, an immigration police car parked outside Marcus’ home, drawing attention to his plight.
That same day, Udon Thani immigration police took Marcus into their care and contacted the Australian embassy. Embassy staff spoke with Marcus directly and assured him help was on the way.
Wiraphon Raksamerwong, the mayor of Ban Dung Municipality, arranged an ambulance to take Marcus to the embassy in Bangkok. For Marcus, this brought real hope that he could finally go home.
Australian’s Wife Returns
While plans were being made, Phikul unexpectedly returned from rehab. Seeing a house full of strangers, she broke down in tears. She told Marcus to “finish things, move on, and if you want to go to Australia, file for divorce first and share our property.”
Phikul, now back from treatment, searched the house for their marriage and property documents, saying she wanted everything finalized before Marcus left. When villagers asked if she still cared for her husband, she shook her head and said she did not.
Khaosod News Reporters asked Marcus if he wanted to stay, but he was set on leaving and starting over in Australia.
Moved by Marcus’ story, Supatra Nisanoff—a businesswoman from Sisaket who works in Australia—came forward and promised to buy his flight ticket home, which would cost around 20,000 to 30,000 baht. She said she simply wanted to help someone in need.
This sad situation has highlighted the problems caused by drug addiction, and also shown how isolated some elderly expats can become when life changes unexpectedly.
Methamphetamine addiction treatment in Thailand is a well-established option due to the country’s numerous high-quality, affordable rehab centers, particularly in areas like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Bangkok.
These facilities offer comprehensive programs tailored to address the severe physical and psychological effects of methamphetamine (commonly known as meth, ice, or crystal meth) addiction, which is a potent and highly addictive stimulant that triggers intense euphoria by flooding the brain with dopamine.
