A Change of Guard

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Sunday 14 December 2014

Family of Cambodia nightclub fire victim want full investigation into deadly blaze

LIA HARRIS THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH DECEMBER 14, 2014

Tom Ricketson, who was killed in a Cambodian nightclub fire, pictured with his sister Ell
Tom Ricketson, who was killed in a Cambodian nightclub fire, pictured with his sister Ella. His family want an investigation into his tragic death. 
THE grieving family of a “cheeky” and “kind-hearted” Sydney man killed in a Cambodian nightclub fire is calling on the Australian Government to conduct a full investigation into the blaze.
Tom Ricketson’s mother Nell Brown and sister Ella Ricketson were left shocked and disappointed this week after local media reported Cambodian police would not take any action over the blaze, despite finding it was likely caused by poorly installed electrical wiring.
Local media also reported it was the fourth devastating blaze in as many years in the popular tourist spot, with many businesses operating without adequate safety measures.
Ms Brown said although the family had been offered a “small amount” of compensation, she wanted to ensure other families did not suffer the same fate.
“We’d really like to see the standards changed, to actually ensure it can’t happen again,” she said.
“He was just doing something all kids do when they’re overseas.
“It could be someone else’s child going overseas and not coming back.”
The 32-year-old care worker, from Narrabeen, died at Hip Hop nightclub in Cambodia’s north-western tourist hub of Siem Reap in the early hours of November 19.
Mr Ricketson and four Cambodians — three women and a man — reportedly succumbed to smoke inhalation after becoming trapped inside.
His grieving mother recalled how “happy and excited” he was about helping the Cambodian people the last time she spoke to him on Skype, just hours before the fatal fire.
“He was introduced to people in Cambodia who really touched his heart and he started formulating plans to help them,” she said.
An old family picture of the Ricketson family, showing Tom (rear in cap), when he was you
An old family picture of the Ricketson family, showing Tom (rear in cap), when he was younger.
“He said to me that something had to be done, that people can’t live like that.
“The last time we talked he was just really excited about helping people.”
Mr Ricketson grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where he attended Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School in Middle Cove.
Ms Brown said he had planned to return to Sydney shortly before Christmas and spend time raising money for the Cambodian people before going back to Siem Reap to volunteer.
She said he had decided to take the trip, which included three months in Vietnam before travelling to Cambodia, after finally recovering from a near-fatal motorbike accident seven years ago.
“We were given the ultimate gift. we were given seven more years with Tom in our lives,” she said.
“I was worried about him getting on a motorbike again ... not about a bar fire.”
His younger sister Ella described her brother as “ cheeky” and “very warm”.
“He had this warmth and compassion that drew people in, once you got past the shy exterior,” she said.
“The last time I spoke to him ... he was really excited that he’d worked out what he wanted to do with his life.”
The scene of the fatal fire at a Cambodian nightclub. Picture: AFP
The scene of the fatal fire at a Cambodian nightclub. Picture: AFP
A Foreign Affairs and Trade Department spokesman confirmed Cambodian police had “concluded” their investigation into the fire.
“Australian consular officials are continuing to provide consular assistance to the family of a man who was tragically killed in a nightclub fire in Siem Reap,” the spokesman said.
“We are aware that Cambodian authorities have concluded their investigation into the nightclub fire and the matter has been referred to the Siem Reap Provincial Court for further investigation.”
Mr Ricketson’s family have since partnered up with the Tabitah Foundation to help make Tom’s dream come true by raising money to help Cambodians struggling in Siem Reap.
Ella said once enough money was raised, she planned to visit Siem Reap to help carry-out the work in her brother’s memory.
To make a donation, visit www.tabitha.org.au/cms/in-memory-of-tom.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Begin of Drgunzet's comment.

Cambodia is a horrible country. Why would anyone wants to come to Cambodia? You are not safe unless you travel in packs with armed escorts. Even with armed escorts, you have a much higher risk to die from traffic accidents, building collapses, fires, drowning and food poisoning.

Don't visit Cambodia until Vietnam can help transforming Cambodia into a better country.

-Drgunzet-

Anonymous said...

-Drgunzet-,

You are not different from the hidden Vietnamese agent Thong Sarath (using Khmer name) along this fugitive Thong Sarath whose parents did not speak Khmer clearly have a high ranking position in CPP government.

All Khmer people at home and abroad know very well about the bad situations in Cambodia caused by your illegal Vietnamese agents as Hun Sen's advisers and servicemen and servicewomen in Yuon/Vietnamese CPP regime led by your buddy Hun Sen who is a Vietnamese puppet. We will unmask the Vietnamese hidden or secret agents in Hun Sen CPP regime that your Vietnamese secret agents like Thong Sarath and his Vietnamese parents in high ranking CPP official offices. We know that Thong Sarath, his parents and other Vietnamese agents have been pretending to be Cambodian to these days or until today.

No matter what you mentioned or post the negative and manipulative comments for others to read, the readers worldwide along Khmer readers are not gullible as you think. So, don't be smart to fool other.

Keep going on, buddy. You will be shameful of your own Vietnamese race.

I don't have time to feel against you "-Drgunzet-" and I am so busy to make it better for Cambodian people's lives and Cambodia country to become prosperous. Your Vietnamese races are too busy to cheat, rob, do illegal businesses, etc. at home and around the world. I know Vietnam and Vietnamese people have very bad reputations around the world, that not everyone has time and energy to criticize your races because we already know.

ខ្មែរយើង
(Khmer Yoeurng)

Anonymous said...

Begin of Drgunzet's comment.

Apparently, this Australian guy was not informed and he paid with his life.

If he did not come to Cambodia, he would have been alive today.

The risk of a Cambodian to be killed by violence (chopped up, shot, cut, pummeled to death...) is 50 times higher than a Japanese. Check this world report, the last survey in this link.

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/

-Drgunzet-