The man’s predicament came to public attention after a report by Phuket Tourist Police. The case was reported last night (Oct 14) among other accounts of Tourist Police officers assisting foreign visitors in various complex situations.
The Phuket office of the Tourist Police Bureau did not disclose the name of the British man and concealed his face in the photos. The exact date of the incident was not revealed, but it is believed to have taken place either on Oct 14 or during the current week. One of the photos clearly shows an official wearing a Vegetarian Festival t-shirt.
"A tourist from the United Kingdom approached Tourist Police seeking assistance regarding an argument with his wife. The woman left the hotel with her spouse’s passport, so he requested help in tracking her down and retrieving his passport and money," noted Phuket Tourist Police.
The unnamed tourist explained that he had already paid for his return tickets but could not board the flight without his passport, and he had no money even for basic necessities.
"Police officers provided the tourist with temporary accommodation and contacted Phuket Bus Terminal to arrange a seat on a Bangkok-bound bus for the man, allowing him to contact the British Embassy and make arrangements for his return home," reported Phuket Tourist Police.
The police did not clarify whether it was deemed appropriate to assist in "tracking down" the British man’s wife, as he initially requested.
One of the photos published by Phuket Tourist Police shows the man seated on a bench at Phuket Bus Terminal 2, the standard departure point for Bangkok-bound buses.
Just like most other foreign embassies, the British Embassy in Bangkok can issue an emergency travel document that permits a British national to travel to the UK from abroad when they cannot use their passport. Typically, this document is valid for a single or return journey, yet the application costs 100 pounds and a credit or debit card is needed for payment (check GOV.UK for more information).