The Australian government says that 33 Australians died in Cambodia from June 8 2015 to June 8 2016. We only counted 15. There are 18 dead Australians out there somewhere. Check under your beds. Look under your sofa cushions. If you find a corpse and you're not sure if it's Australian, there is an easy way to tell. Dead Australians smell better than living ones.
The most dangerous destinations for Australian travellers
June 13, 2016 12:00am
EVERY DAY almost nine Australians go missing, get hurt or die overseas with Thailand and Indonesia among the most dangerous places to visit.
As the family of Rye Hunt processed news of the Aussie backpacker’s tragic death in Brazil, statistics provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, showed 1224 Australians did not return from overseas trips in the year to June 8, 2016.
They include 21-year-old Queenslander Madison Rice — who was struck by a car in Scotland last week — and Melbourne university lecturer Dr Maria Strydom, who died from altitude sickness while descending Mt Everest in Nepal last month.
Another tragic case was the murders of two West Australian surfers in Mexico last December.
Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, both 33, were shot dead by robbers and their van set alight, on a gang-plagued roadside in Sinaloa.
In addition, almost 2000 Aussie travellers were either hospitalised overseas in the year to June, or were listed as missing after losing touch or not returning home as planned.
Despite being only the fourth most visited country by Australians, Thailand recorded the highest number of deaths and serious injuries with a total of 325.
Indonesia was second with 237 deaths and injuries, followed by the US with 178 and the Philippines (167).
Australians were most likely to go missing in Indonesia — where 40 Aussies remain unaccounted for, then Thailand (39), the US (38) and the Philippines (32).
Tourism lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, David Beirman, said the statistics represented only a tiny percentage of the 9 million Australians who travelled overseas each year.
“Many of those who do die overseas, die from natural causes, old age, or medical conditions rather than foul play or misadventure,” said Dr Beirman.
“Having said that, places like Thailand do attract larger groups of younger people who engage in fairly risky activities, like the Full Moon Festivals and motorcycle riding.”
“I don’t think that makes Thailand and Indonesia inherently dangerous destinations. It’s the choices people make when they visit those places.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade currently advises travellers to exercise a “high degree of caution” in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Thailand advisory highlights the risks involved in hiring motorcycles and jet skis, and warns of “scams and more serious criminal activity”.
Dr Beirman said a lack of regulation was a concern for visitors to places like Thailand and Nepal.
“A lot of people who attempt to climb Mt Everest succeed but there are some operators who cut corners with safety,” he said.
“Thailand itself is a bit lax with regulation, so it’s a case of “traveller beware” and be a bit more choosy about the type of operators they use.”
THE STATISTICS
Deaths (total: 1224)
Thailand — 168
Philippines — 101
Indonesia — 93
United States — 63
Vietnam — 62
Germany — 47
Greece — 46
China — 43
United Kingdom — 35
Cambodia — 33