The BFA needs US$200,000 to buy new vehicles to continue EMS education, training and rescue work in Thailand. Secondly, we need a sponsor to provide running costs of (US$1600) to do this in order to run them 24 hours/7 days a week.
About us
Marko and Shane
Mark Andrew Cunningham “Marko” a New Zealander from Upper Hutt who has volunteered for a Chinese/Thai Rescue organizations in Thailand for the last 10 years now. He studies and works as a Fire/EMT/Paramedic at night and weekends and as an English Teacher in the day to support his very own ambulance service. He is the only official foreigner in Thailand to be registered for this kind of work. He has also written a book about his work in Thailand called “Sleeping with the Dead”. Resume
Shane Palmer, another New Zealander, has recently joined our group and is a Team Leader and Ambulance officer for the St. John’s Ambulance Service in Christchurch as well as holding down a full time job. Like Marko he is passionate about volunteering and has decided to give up more of his free time to take care of the administration and marketing of the Bangkok Free Ambulance over there in NZ.
What the Bangkok Free Ambulance does
•Operates a free ambulance service including vehicle purchase, medical and rescue equipment, maintenance and petrol. Weekly attending on average 30+ accidents in the central Bangkok area, some of which are foreigners.
•Assists in body care and collection(The police don’t do this in Thailand)of anyone but particularly foreigners and assist families in translations and body collection processes in their time of grieving. Marko helped take care of over 2000 bodies during the Tsunami aftermath for 2 weeks for which he received medals from both the Thai and New Zealand governments.
•Assists the police with translations, ID, and anything to do with foreigners.
•All areas of rescue work including fire, floods, rescue, and relief supplies for victims of natural disasters and/or poor areas of Thailand (including hill tribes)
•Teach first response medicine(EMS), including CPR/CCR to volunteers and organizations and communities all over Thailand.
•English speaking representative to the press. Marko has been on TV interviews in Thailand and several overseas stations, newspapers, magazines, documentaries, etc.
•PR/Host for foreign guests ie; Italian representative to the UN, foreign paramedics, Sponsors, dignitaries, journalists, etc..
•All English documentation for many foundations, translations or documents, videos, etc.
•Teach English to members of rescue workers (and the public)
•Constantly studying/researching EMS updates, including worldwide responses to terrorism/disease such as SARS, EMS updates, H1N1, etc..
•Member of the General Chootichai Foundations’ Thailand Dog Rescue Association (TRDA) and I have had basic rescue dog handler training and am the EMS support officer and liaison officer for the group and RKU.
•Member of the Narenthorn/Erawan/Red Cross/Naja Rescue Ambulance Services (Government and international ambulance services).
•Member of the Foreign Correspondence Club (Thailand).
Marko has already been on various media including; CNN, Discovery Channel, News reports, etc., See MEDIA page for more.
We are always looking for more volunteers too: marketing, paramedics, nurses, doctors, anything you want to help with we can find a place for you, both Thai and foreigners.
Dear Marko,
I found your website and read about you when my Editor passed me a copy of your book to be reviewed. Kudos for the wonderful effort and congratulation for finding the calling in your life. How many of us can actually claim that we love our jobs as much as you do? All the best to your endeavours and i look forward to read your book.
Cheers,
Kam, Christchurch
Hi Marko
Well done to you fellow volunteer rescue buddy.
I too have been in voluteer search and rescue for 18 in South Africa. I now live most of my time in Phuket. Sadly in Phuket we only have one falang guy working with RKU. He is a Norwegian guy, I think.
I also did all the police ” dirty ” work and as I have always told people, it is somebody’s loved one, take care and have respect.
I really apreciate your excellent work and hopefully, one day when you take a holiday, may you come to Phuket, so we can meet.
As I write, your book is winging it to me in South Africa. I shall return to Phuket at the end of October.
Well done Nakorn 046 from Delta 34. Out.
Hi Marko,
Is your book available in Bangkok?
Unfortunately not at the moment, my publisher has been very slack about that and i am actually in the process of editing it (in English) for the Thai market as well as translating it into Thai. Hopefully by early next year the updated English version will be on sale here in Thailand only. Meanwhile you can order it online at http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Nonfiction/Social_Sciences/Human_Services/9781869792701/?cf=3&rid=38917833&i=1&keywords=sleeping%20with%20the%20dead (Sorry for the inconvenience) Kindest regards,
Marko
Hi there from a fellow Upper Hutt person (but been living in the UK for 22 yrs now)
Found you on a google search for ambulance services in Thailand – am currently in selection process for Student Para course in the UK (hope to get through) – doing it for two reasons – career change and its something I have always wanted to do (currently am Tech 3 with voluntary organisation) and secondly, as my civil partner is Thai, we are planning to move to Thailand in about 7-8 years, and I am looking for something I can bring skills wise to use there!
When we are over sometime, would love to meet up and see what you are up to over there!
Regards
Chris H
sawasdeeka i’m laila from thailand nice too meet you
i like your all work have value in thailand
and i want to say THANKS A LOT because you help my country
i think maybe some word you ll not understand me
because i speak english very poor
and i hope you ll understand me
i don’t know you can read thai language or not,but thai language eazy for me because i’m thai people
ฉันรู้สึกประทับใจกับการทำงานของคุณและการช่วยเหลือสำหรับเหตุการณ์ต่างๆในประเทศไทย ฉันหวังว่าคุณจะไม่ท้อถอยสำหรับอุปสรรคต่างๆที่เกิดขึ้น ฉันเป็นคนไทยแต่ฉันยังไม่สามารถช่วยประเทศที่รักของฉันได้มากเท่าคุณด้วยซ้ำ ขอเป็นกำลังใจให้นะค่ะ
สำหรับตอนนี้ ฉันไม่รู้ว่าคุณอยู่ที่กรุงเทพหรือเปล่า แต่ก็ขอให้คุณระวังตัวกับเหตุกาณ์ทางการเมืองที่เกิดขึ้น เพราะตอนนี้สถาณการณ์เริ่มอันตรายมากขึ้นทุกที กรุณารักษาความปลอดภัยสำหรับตัวคุณเองด้วย
My e-mail jayzalailazy@hotmail.com(i have msn and facebook if you have )
thanks for help my country
Laila (i’m secret maria)
Marko, kindly contact me if you would like a collaborator on the Thai version of your autobio.
Hi Marko,
I am a freelance journalist and was wondering whether you’d be interested in interviewing for a feature I’m working on about the por tek teung movement in Thailand?
I’m currently in Riyadh but will be back in Thailand over the summer if you’d like to meet up and have a chat about this.
I couldn’t pay you, but you and your organisation would get some exposure which might help with donations. I’d need to take some photos as well to accompany the piece.
By the way, I think you’re doing a great job which is much needed in S E Asia and beyond. Keep up the good work!
Let me know what you think when you get a chance.
best regards
Tom