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Emergency numbers useful contacts in Thailand

When you are traveling in Thailand as a foreigner, it can be confusing to know which number to call in an emergency. It is not as simple as just calling one number for everything (like you may be used to in your own country). Fortunately, we have compiled a list of all the useful contacts that you may need whilst in Thailand.

English-speaking operators can be hit or miss. If you are having difficulty, the tourist police, or international hospital may be your best option.

SafetyWing is our recommended travel health insurance provider. In case of any type of medical incident, having health insurance coverage in Thailand can save you a lot of money, or even your life.

Emergency numbers

Police & emergencies – 191 This may be the most important number to remember. Thailand has reportedly made 191 the main call center for all emergencies. If the operator is unable to speak English, call 1155 (below).

Tourist Police – 1155 or (+66) 2308-0333 This hotline is available 24 hours a day and they will all speak English. This is an important phone number to remember – They will help you out with any concerns or questions you have and can redirect you to the correct number you may need. Public Ambulance (Everywhere) – 1669 Dialing this number will connect you to a public ambulance service, which will dispatch a vehicle to your location. The average response time for urban areas is around 10 minutes, but may take up to 30 minutes in rural areas. English-speaking staff should be available to assist you.

Fire Department – 199 In case of an emergency such as a house fire, or forest fire, call 199 for the Fire Department to be dispatched to your location.

Private Ambulance (Bangkok) – 1724 or 1719 The response time of a public ambulance can vary. Traffic is terrible in Bangkok so it could be worth noting down these private ambulance numbers. It will cost you more but you are likely to get to the hospital and be treated quickly.

Highway Police – 1193 If you plan on driving in Thailand, then you may end up needing to use this number if you break down in an unsafe place etc.

Note: The emergency medical services (ambulance) should have English speaking staff, but the police and fire services may not speak your language. If there is a Thai speaker nearby, get them to call. If it is not an urgent emergency and you do not have a Thai speaker with you, it is advised to call the Tourist Police – See below.

Embassies and Consulates

The Consular office of the Embassy of a foreign national in Thailand is responsible for providing assistance and information to citizens in distress, such as victims of crime, those arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, those experiencing serious illness, those who have lost a partner or spouse, and those in need of repatriation after a crisis. Additionally, they can assist with lost or stolen passports.

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Tourist Police

This page is created for your information. Our website IS NOT the Tourist Police site. Please do not email us asking for assistance is legal disputes. You should contact one of the office below or phone 1155.

National Tourist Police Call Centre Telephone: 1155

The force has offices in the major tourist areas:

Other Tourist Police Numbers

Bangkok tourist assistance Centre call (02) 281 5051 Pattaya tourist police (038) 429 371 Phuket tourist police (076) 225 361 Chiang Mai tourist police (053) 248 130

Other Emergency Numbers

General Emergency Call: 191 Ambulance and Rescue: 1554 Medical Emergency Call: 1669

Other Useful Numbers

Telephone Directory Assistance: 1133 Tourist Service Centre: 1672 Bangkok Taxi Call Centre: 1681, 1661, (02) 424 2222 Credit Card (Visa, Master Card): (02) 256 7326 to 7327

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Thailand Tourist Police launches ‘I Lert U’ mobile app for 24-hour assistance

The app is linked to the tourist police 1155 emergency response centre..

Bangkok, 8 July, 2022 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to inform tourists they can download the ‘Tourist Police I Lert U’ mobile application, to enjoy peace of mind throughout their travels in Thailand.

Downloadable for free at Google Play for Android phones and App Store for iOS phones, the I Lert U application is available in English and Thai. The app is linked to the Tourist Police 1155 Emergency Response Centre, where there are also interpreters and translators ready to provide tourist assistance in other languages.

Tourists requiring help at any time 24 hours around the clock can use the application to contact the Tourist Police, who will dispatch officers to the scene immediately. Tourists can also take a photo of an incident and upload via the app to require assistance.

The Tourist Police is a division of the Royal Thai Police, and is dedicated to the safety and well-being of tourists in Thailand. With over 1,900 officers, the Tourist Police operates throughout the kingdom, including in all the major tourist destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, and Chiang Mai.

The Royal Thai Government places the highest priority on the safety and well-being of every visitor to Thailand. And as the main government agency responsible for the promotion and marketing of Thailand as a preferred destination, TAT is working closely with all the concerned public and private organisations to ensure the utmost efforts to prevent any unfortunate incidents occurring on tourists and the local Thai people.

TAT Newsroom

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Thailand Emergency Services: Phone Numbers you should have before visiting Thailand

dimaak_admin

February 22, 2024

Thailand, is a country that has a tourist-friendly policy and attracts travelers from around the world, throughout the year. Thailand vacations are always a breeze as people have a wonderful time. However, accidents or unavoidable circumstances may also happen in Thailand during your trip. In addition, the hot climate, traffic, and the food can also sometimes lead to health problems among the tourists. Thus, before traveling to Thailand, it’s better to gather all the essential information of the country.

We should always be prepared for the worst. To avoid any risks, it is necessary to take precautions. Traveling in Thailand is fairly easy, but it is important to note down emergency numbers before you travel to Thailand.

The numbers you need to know are listed below. Just keep it with you for peace of mind.

Emergency Phone Numbers in Thailand:

Let’s hope you’ll never be in a problematic situation during your trip, but in case you run into one, be assured, these emergency numbers will help you.

• Police: 191
• Tourist Police: 1155 (English, German, and French spoken)
• Fire Brigade: 199
• Ambulance: 1669
• Tourism Authority of Thailand: 1672

Call 191 if you need to contact the Thailand Police. 191 is the hotline to contact the Royal Thai Police. Sometimes the correspondents don’t understand English. In this case, you can contact the Tourist Police.  

In case of a health emergency, dial 1669. You will get a public ambulance when you call this number. If you are in urban areas, you will get the response in 10 to 15 minutes, and if in rural areas, it may take up to 30 minutes. If you call directly to any international hospital in Thailand, all the staff members understand English.

If you are facing serious health issues and you are not able to travel on the ground, then you can use private air ambulance companies. Many big hospitals have helipads. This is more expensive but you can reach the hospital in a shorter time. The air ambulance is also staffed with two pilots accompanied by two medical specialists to provide any medical help on the spot.

Other Emergency Numbers to Call in Thailand:

• Tourist Service Center: 1672
• Telephone Directory Assistance: 1133
• Thailand Yellow Pages: 1188
• Highway Police: 1193
• Ambulance: 1646 (For Bangkok)
• Bumrungrad International Hospital: +66 (0)2 667 2999
• Ambulance for Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok: +66 (0)2 712 7007
• Bangkok Hospital (Emergency): +66 (0)2 310 3102
• Immigration Bureau: +66 (0)2 287 3101
• Suvarnabhumi International Airport: +66 (0)2 132 1888
• Thai Airways: 1566
• Bangkok Taxi call center: 1681/81, +66 (0)2 424 2222
• Air Ambulance – 02 586 7654
• National disaster warning center – 1860
• Crime – 1195

How to deal during Emergency?

As you have the phone number of Tourist Police of Thailand (1155) call and voice your concern and they will definitely help you.

If you are facing a problem in Thailand, Don’t worry. You’ll find nearly everyone around extremely helpful. However, even though you are a guest in Thailand, all the people around you will also share your concern, even if you are a stranger to them.

Be calm at any situation and don’t get angry whether you are right or wrong. You will be treated with full respect if you remain calm and act friendly.

Be Polite and always keep a smile while solving your problem. A smile will take you real far with the people of the land of smiles. And the people will treat you with more respect.

Final Thoughts:

Thailand is a country with wide varieties of travel opportunities. However, you should always be ready for possible emergency circumstances. Do not forget to note down emergency phone numbers of Thailand. Keep your passport, insurance copy, ID and bank cards in your pocket. All these simple precautionary steps will help you avoid risky situations. We hope this guide will help keep yourself safe during your stay in Thailand.

Be careful and have a great time in Thailand!

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Pattaya pub guards admit bashing customers

Dispute over friend's unpaid bill

PUBLISHED : 27 May 2024 at 12:52

WRITER: Chaiyot Pupattanapong

PATTAYA: Police arrested three security guards for assaulting two foreign customers in a violent dispute over payment of a friend's bill at a bar on Sunday evening.

The three guards were identified by police as Ball, 27, Tom, 36, and Ice, 24. They were charged at Pattaya police station after allegedly seriously injuring two foreign customers at the Helicopter pub on Soi 6 about 5pm. 

Police said the three men confessed to the crime. Mr Ball said a foreign customer shoved and punched him first. His nose was broken and he needed six stitches, he said. He apologised, saying he and his colleagues had lost control and overreacted.

The brawl was recorded by onlookers using mobile phones. Videos showed a security guard was attacked first. The three guards fought back violently, repeatedly bashing the visitors and leaving one of them unconscious. 

Samorn, a 38-year-old cashier at the bar said the tourists arrived in a group of three. Two of them paid their bills but the other had kept moving from table to table and had left without paying his bill.

The two visitors were annoyed when the cashier told them to pay their missing friend's bill. Initially they refused to pay and seized the mobile phones of other customers to prevent them from recording the dispute, according to Ms Samorn, who said she called in the security guards who patrol the street.

The two visitors paid the outstanding bill, 2,800 baht. One of them then shoved a security guard out of the way, and a brawl erupted. The cashier said she had feared being hurt if the guards had not shown up.

Police said neither of the tourists had so far filed a complaint. 

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12 people were injured by turbulence on a Qatar Airways flight to Dublin

• Emergency services attended to 12 injured from turbulence on a Doha-Dublin flight.
• The Qatar Airways plane met turbulence over Turkey, injuring passengers and crew.
• This follows a deadly turbulence incident on a London-Singapore flight earlier this week.

Emergency services are attending to 12 people who were injured due to turbulence on a flight from Doha to Dublin.

The Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane landed shortly before 1 p.m.

Flight QR017 was met by airport police and Dublin Airport's fire and rescue department after six passengers and six crew members sustained injuries from mid-flight turbulence, DAA, Dublin Airport's operator, told Business Insider.

13.30 update: ✈️ Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely as scheduled at Dublin Airport shortly before 13.00 on Sunday. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including Airport Police and our Fire and Rescue department, due to 6 passengers and 6… pic.twitter.com/nB2F4BOcI5 — Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) May 26, 2024

The Qatar Airways plane was flying over Turkey when it encountered turbulence, DAA said.

In a statement shared with BI, Qatar Airways said: "Qatar Airways can confirm that flight QR017 a Boeing B787-9 from Doha to Dublin has landed safely. A small number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries in flight and are now receiving medical attention. The matter is now subject to an internal investigation. The safety and security of our passengers and crew are our top priority."

Related stories

Earlier this week, a similar incident unfolded when severe turbulence caused a death on a flight from London to Singapore.

As many as 71 passengers were injured, some of whom were admitted to hospitals in Bangkok, where the Singapore Airlines plane was diverted following critical injuries from the turbulence.

A 73-year-old British man, Geoff Kitchen, on board, died as a result of the turbulence encountered on Flight SQ321 on Tuesday.

Images from the diverted flight show debris strewn across the cabin and blood on the ceiling.

Both incidents of severe turbulence this week occurred on Boeing aircraft. The Singapore-bound plane was a Boeing 777 .

A 737 Max 9 jet used by Alaska Airlines lost its door plug midair in January, forcing an emergency landing.

Business Insider contacted Boeing for comment.

This is a developing story…

Watch: Severe turbulence launches passengers to the ceiling of Singapore Airline flight

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Indian police arrest hospital boss after six babies die in fire

Monday, 27 May 2024

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People standing in front of a baby care hospital where several newborns died in a fire in New Delhi on May 26. - Reuters

NEW DELHI: Indian police said Monday (May 27) they had arrested a doctor and the owner of an unlicensed hospital where six newborn babies died in a fire in a crowded ward without fire exits.

The blaze broke out at the New Born Baby Care hospital in New Delhi's Vivek Vihar area late Saturday evening.

In the crucial first minutes, it was bystanders who spotted the fire and braved the blaze to rescue the newborns inside.

"We didn't even name her... I never even held her in my arms," Anjar Khan, whose 11-day-old daughter died in the blaze, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

Vinod Sharma, who lost his day-old baby boy, blamed the hospital authorities for the tragedy.

"He had a problem with breathing. The doctor had said that he will be fine in a few days," Sharma was quoted as saying by the Indian Express newspaper.

"We didn't know that the hospital would kill him."

Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.

The narrow two-storey hospital building was squeezed between a row of homes, without space on either side, making it hard for fire engines to reach.

"We were trying to control the fire, but there was no way to enter the building and rescue the 12 babies who were trapped," local fire officer Atul Garg told reporters.

Senior police officer Surendra Chaudhary told AFP that the hospital did "not have a fire exit system".

Its licence had expired in March and the owner had crammed into the ward more than twice the number of beds it previously had permission for.

"The hospital had permission for up to five beds but they had installed more than 10 beds," he said.

"In view of all this, we have made the arrests."

Five babies pulled out from the fire are still recovering in another hospital.

The blaze in the hospital on Saturday broke out just hours after a separate fire at an amusement park in India's western state of Gujarat.

The toll from that fire rose to 28 on Monday, police said.

The blaze -- which ripped through a centre with a bowling alley and other games crowded with youngsters -- was triggered by welding work on the ground floor, chief fire officer Ilesh Kher told reporters.

"The CCTV footage clearly shows that a spark from the welding work fell on a stack of corrugated cardboard sheets below, causing the fire," Kher said.

"This spread very fast as the material was highly flammable."

The corpses were so badly burned they have not been identified so far.

Police have charged seven people with culpable homicide in connection to that fire.

The two fires came as northern India was gripped by intense heat, with temperatures in Delhi hitting 46.8 degrees Celsius (116.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, according to the India Meteorological Department. - AFP

Tags / Keywords: India , hospital , babies , fire , arrest

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My life as a Chinese spy: Secret police agent tells all

For the first time ever, an undercover agent for China's secret police steps out of the shadows to tell all about where he's been and who he's been targeting.

On a bitterly cold winter morning in China last year, a man who'd spent more than a decade working as a spy for the notorious secret police decided to flee his homeland.

"I spent most of the time in the airport's bathroom, worried that secret police would find out my plan," he recalls.

The man – who goes by the name Eric – was no stranger to operating undercover.

As an agent for the Political Security Protection Bureau, or 1st Bureau – a secret unit of China's Ministry of Public Security – he'd been involved in missions to surveil, abduct and silence targets around the world since 2008, including in Australia.

This mission, though – to quit – would be his most dangerous.

After landing on Australian soil last year, he walked into ASIO headquarters in Canberra and revealed who he was.

Now, the 39-year-old is divulging the secrets he's been guarding for years, at great risk to himself, to expose what he says is one of the most feared parts of China's intelligence apparatus.

"It is the darkest department of the Chinese government," he says.

"The bureau – they're a bit like the KGB, the Stasi and the Gestapo."

After arriving in Australia, Eric contacted the ABC and began to explain his predicament.

His story sounded unbelievable, but he seemed determined.

"The Communist Party shaped me into an enemy who is committed to the fight against it," he says in one message.

"Without it, I am just a young man who likes to read books, play games, love animals, and occasionally write poetry."

Eric shared hundreds of secret documents, text and voice messages, and bank records that he'd gathered over the years, and after weeks of complex negotiations, he agreed to an interview.

It is the first time anyone from the secret police has spoken publicly.

Sitting in an empty warehouse with a Simpsons T-shirt just visible under his green jacket, Eric is nervous, but he says:

"I believe the public has the right to know this secret world."

The recruitment

Eric says he was always going to end up turning his back on China.

As a 22-year-old university student obsessed with Western democracy, he says he joined the US-founded China Social Democratic Party in 2007.

He was unaware he was under police surveillance.

After sharing information about the party's annual meeting on social media, police came knocking at his door.

"They told me, 'Get dressed and follow us. You know what you've done'," he says.

Eric was taken from his home, interrogated over several days in a small room inside a local police station, and forced to sign a document confessing to his 'crime' of opposing the Chinese government.

Threatened with jail time, he was offered a second chance.

That was the moment Eric's world as he knew it ended, and his double life as a reluctant spy for China's covert system of repression began.

"They forced me to work for them … I didn't have a choice."

For 15 years, Eric would be assigned to a series of secret police handlers who directed him to infiltrate pro-democracy organisations and hunt down dissidents that were now Chinese government targets.

As a dissident himself, Eric had the perfect cover story. In 2016 he was invited to a gathering of activists in India's Dharamshala, home of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

There, he met with the Dalai Lama.

Eric filed a report to his handler detailing the exiled government's confidential future China policy. It was well received.

The secret police now trusted him to work internationally and he was rewarded with higher stakes missions to help ensnare high-profile opponents living abroad.

One of them was right here in Australia.

The YouTuber

In 2018, Eric was ordered to hunt down Edwin Yin, a YouTuber who has been deeply critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Edwin wrote a book alleging Xi has four illegitimate sons and also published a video ridiculing Xi's daughter.

He fled China for Australia in 2018.

Eric's handlers communicated with him via encrypted social messaging apps including Potato Chat and Ant Messenger.

Four Corners is not naming Eric's handlers to protect his safety.

Handler: [Edwin] Yin … born in 1982, from Shengzhou, Zhejiang … He fled to Thailand, Singapore and other places, and is now in Australia.

Handler: Use Twitter or other channels to get closer to him.

Handler: Lure him to South-East Asia.

Eric: Okay, Brother.

When Four Corners met with Edwin to share what it had found, he was living in a campervan, moving from place to place.

He already suspected he had been under surveillance by the Chinese state and didn't feel safe.

"In front of our home, there were different cars, different Chinese faces," he says.

"Sometimes while sleeping, there'd be footsteps outside. I'd grab a knife and rush outside, but they'd be gone."

Edwin tells Four Corners about the extraordinary lengths he believes the Chinese intelligence services have been going to in order to ensnare him.

In 2021, he suffered a broken nose after being assaulted in a Melbourne street by two men he suspects were Chinese agents. A third man who was with them filmed the attack.

The year before, his then partner Michelle, an Australian citizen, travelled to China after being told her father was gravely ill.

When she arrived, she realised her parents had been told to lie, and she was forced to meet with intelligence officers who questioned her about Edwin.

"Where he lives, what did he do … his financial information, what kind of people he met," she says.

Michelle doesn't want to be identified.

When she travelled to China she was pregnant and says the officers started pressuring her to abort the baby. She believes they thought it would give Edwin a pathway to Australian citizenship.

While Edwin claims he is a dissident on the run, China says it is tracking him down because he is a criminal. He was charged with fraud in China and Four Corners has spoken to a man who says he is one of his victims.

But Edwin says he's being framed by the Chinese government.

The Australian Federal Police is aware of Edwin's case.

Eric says he began collecting intelligence on Edwin but didn't pursue him further. He told his handler he felt Edwin was "too cunning" and was unlikely to travel overseas.

He says Edwin's case shows the growth of the Chinese Communist Party's global reach.

"Since Xi took over as leader…no doubt their power is expanding, their staffing, their finances."

"So, their overseas operations have become relatively more active."

Following Eric's revelations, Four Corners learned of an AFP raid in Sydney last year that disrupted a Chinese intelligence agency undertaking surveillance on people.

Edwin's name was one of the names listed on the AFP search warrant as a victim of the spying operation.

The cartoonist

Before Eric was tasked with spying on Edwin, he worked for the Chinese police in operations across South-East Asia.

In 2016, he was based in Cambodia and ordered to target political cartoonist Wang Liming, also known as Rebel Pepper.

Rebel Pepper's satirical drawings take aim at China's human rights record and its political elite, including President Xi Jinping.

His work variously depicts Xi as a dumpling, a tyrant, and Winnie the Pooh – and the Chinese Communist Party as a tentacled monster.

Eric was given an apartment in Phnom Penh and a cover story, working as a planning supervisor for the Prince Real Estate Group.

The company is a subsidiary of multi-billion-dollar conglomerate the Prince Holding Group, which has connections to Cambodia's leadership.

Cambodia and Laos have close ties with the Chinese government and there have been allegations in the past that it can operate freely in both countries.

At the time, Rebel Pepper was living in Japan, so Eric was ordered to lure him to Cambodia where he could be arrested by and returned to China to face trial.

"I really like Wang as a cartoonist. I didn't want him to be arrested, but there was little space for me to offer help," Eric says.

High-ranking secret police officials travelled from Beijing to a private clubhouse in Phnom Penh to discuss the entrapment with Eric.

He then contacted Rebel Pepper using his cover at Prince Real Estate, asking the cartoonist to design a logo for them.

Every message Eric sent was first approved by his handler.

Eric: I plan to leave a message…such as "Hi Pepper…I have seen a lot of your work, and I'm very impressed.

Handler: OK.

In a voice message, Eric's handler told him to exploit Rebel Pepper's need for money.

Handler: If he says his financial situation is bad, you can immediately send him 500 US dollars.

Rebel Pepper responded a few days later.

Eric: He replied.

Handler: OK, wait for my update.

Eric: Well. The fish seems to be biting the bait.

Rebel Pepper's designs were used by Prince Real Estate at their events and Eric arranged for senior managers to pose with a giant inflatable version of one of them.

Secret police then organised a job interview for Rebel Pepper in Cambodia, but his wife suspected it was a trap and dissuaded him from going.

Four Corners met with Rebel Pepper – who now lives in the US – and told him he had been a target of the secret police. He's shocked at the findings.

"They only needed to censor my cartoons. What intelligence was there to collect on me?"

"It freaks me out. If they spent that much effort to arrest me, they would severely penalise me," he says.

A spokesperson for the Prince Holding Group said it has no affiliations with any part of the Chinese government and holds itself to the highest ethical standards.

"We do not participate in or condone any actions that violate human rights or the laws of any jurisdiction," they said.

The activist

In 2018, Eric was sent to Thailand to target another dissident.

This time, they would end up dead.

Eric was ordered to befriend Hua Yong, an exiled Chinese artist and activist hiding in Bangkok who had long been an outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party.

In 2012, Hua had staged a protest commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre by punching himself in the face.

Hua also documented Beijing's mass evictions of migrant workers in 2017.

In a voice recording in April 2020, Eric's handler stressed that he was a high priority.

Handler: You listen to my following request carefully.

Handler: This Hua Yong, the superiors now find him very annoying and want to deal with him. As you mentioned, he is short of money and wants to do business together. You think of a way to lure him to Cambodia or Laos.

Eric was given a cover story as a business planning manager at a hotel group named White Horse.

Over drinks, Eric and Hua bonded over their desire to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party and discussed setting up a pro-democracy group overseas. Eric reported this back to his handlers and they came up with a plan.

Eric would form a fake anti-CCP militia called "V Brigade", to further build Hua's trust.

In a video posted online, Eric dressed up as a militia leader and delivered a speech urging Chinese citizens to prepare for armed resistance against the regime.

It was a success: Hua promoted the V Brigade video on his Twitter and YouTube accounts and messaged Eric: "I just watched the video … I can feel my blood boiling".

Eric says the secret police offer a reward system for the agent who assists with capturing a high-profile target, and a bounty of 100,000 yuan (around $20,000) was put on Hua.

In April 2021, the plan almost faltered when Hua was granted a temporary protection visa by Canada, but he remained in close contact with Eric and invited him into his core group of activists.

A few months later, Hua moved to Vancouver and Eric filed a comprehensive intelligence report at the request of his handler, including Hua's phone number, address, where he went and who he met.

Eric was praised for his work and given a financial bonus.

According to Hua's friends in Canada, he had settled there and was living a happy new life.

But in November 2022 – more than a year-and-a-half after he arrived – Hua was found dead. He died while kayaking on a cold autumn night.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police concluded Hua's death was not suspicious.

Eric says he has his doubts about Hua's death.

"My first reaction was that maybe he'd been killed, but in fact, I couldn't tell whether his death was just an accident or a murder, because I wasn't part of it."

"All I could say is that Mr Hua had been a long-term target of the secret police."

Asked if he feels any guilt, Eric says he had no choice but to carry out his work.

"I'm an idealist, but I'm also pragmatic. I am aware of the outcome one might face in China if you refuse to work for the secret police."

Eric says in the early days, he tried to flee the secret police on several occasions.

In 2011, without telling his handler, he travelled to Hong Kong and declared who he was working for at the US consulate.

American officials took him seriously, he says, but ultimately, he never escaped.

Even as Eric worked for the secret police, he says he tried to subtly undermine their work.

Once, in 2021, while he was still in Thailand, his handler asked him to target a Chinese military veteran living in Myanmar.

Eric says he tried to help the veteran slip the net by blaming the pandemic, telling the handler he'd contacted him but Covid meant it would be hard to meet.

The handler responded with an angry voice message.

[You're] too cautious, it always sounds like you don't want to do anything.

I've been thinking, and over the past few years you haven't actually met with these bad people very much, because you're not willing to.

You always tell me you can't ask them this or ask them that. You don't even fucking try to approach them!

Eventually it was one of Eric's cover stories that brought his time as a spy to an end.

The V Brigade videos sparked an inquiry by security officials in Beijing who didn't know the militia was a secret police trap.

Eric's handler told him he was facing arrest and ordered him to return to China while his handler tried to smooth it over.

Eric knew his time had run out. He fled, flipping a coin to decide between Australia and New Zealand.

His handlers tried to reach him after he arrived in Australia.

"I told them that it was impossible to meet me," Eric says.

"I suggested them and their families leaving China because there could be a huge fallout as a result of my escape … I wished that they take care of themselves."

Now Eric is going public, he says he will be a target of his former masters, and secret agents may now be sent to harm him.

"When they deal with a target like me, they may be more patient … and wait for an appropriate time to act," he says with a worried but firm tone.

"They may mobilise some agents on the ground or send people to Australia to take measures against me."

An Australian Government spokesperson said defending against malicious foreign interference was "a top priority".

China's foreign affairs ministry in Beijing did not respond to a request for comment.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra did not respond to detailed questions but after publication called Four Corners' investigation "malicious slander".

Eric says working undercover has deeply affected him.

"Years of clandestine political activity had turned me into a suspicious and confrontational person.

"I'm still sentimental, but I can also be cruel in some ways."

There is only one way he says he'll ever feel safe.

"For all those who oppose the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping, the day that we can feel truly safe is the day the CCP falls."

Watch the Four Corners documentary on  ABC iview  and YouTube .

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Contact Four Corners here .

Story by: Echo Hui , Elise Potaka and Dylan Welch

Photos: Keana Naughton and Ryan Sheridan

Illustrations: Rebel Pepper

Editing and production: Kate Sullivan

A Four Corners and ABC Investigations production

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Twelve injured as Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin hits turbulence

Dublin airport authorities say six passengers and six crew members were injured after flight hit turbulence over Turkey.

At least a dozen people have sustained injuries after a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin was hit by turbulence while flying over Turkey, Dublin airport authorities have said.

At least six passengers and six crew members were injured on Qatar Airways flight QR017, Dublin airport said in a statement on Sunday.

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One dead as singapore airlines flight from london hit by severe turbulence, shaken passengers from deadly turbulence-hit flight arrive in singapore, passengers describe chaos on singapore airlines flight.

It said that the aircraft landed safely as scheduled before 1pm (12:00GMT). Upon landing, it was met by emergency services, including airport police and the fire and rescue department, the airport said.

“All passengers were assessed for injury prior to disembarking the aircraft,” it said, adding that eight passengers were taken to hospital in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

Qatar Airways confirmed that the flight, a Boeing B787-9 from Doha to Dublin, landed safely.

“A small number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries in flight and are now receiving medical attention,” read the statement. “The matter is now subject to an internal investigation.”

15.00 update:⁰⁰Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely as scheduled at Dublin Airport shortly before 13.00 on Sunday. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including Airport Police and our Fire and Rescue department, due to 6 passengers and 6 crew… pic.twitter.com/6rZjQg5vOb — Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) May 26, 2024

The incident comes after a British man died and dozens of people were severely injured on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight that hit sudden and severe turbulence on Tuesday. The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand.

Health authorities said on Thursday that 20 people remained in intensive care while others sustained spinal cord, brain and skull injuries.

Following the incident, Singapore’s flag carrier adopted “a more cautious approach to managing turbulence in-flight”, SIA told Al Jazeera in a statement on Friday. Under the revised policy, meal service will no longer be provided when the seat belt sign is on, the airline said.

The cabin crew will also continue to secure all loose items and equipment during poor weather conditions and continue to advise passengers to return to their seats and secure their seat belts.

Air travel rarely leads to injuries. In the United States, the world’s largest air travel market, there have only been 163 injuries between 2009 and 2022 that required hospitalisation, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The US National Transportation Safety Board hasn’t reported a single turbulence-related death on a large-body aircraft in that period.

It’s also almost unheard of for turbulence to bring down an aircraft – let alone a commercial one.

Experts warned that while aircraft are designed to withstand severe amounts of turbulence, climate-change-related factors such as warming temperatures could lead to higher wind speeds.