On behalf of George and Somepong we wish to thank everyone for the overwhelming financial and emotional support so generously given on this website.
We have surpassed our goal of $15,000 and this will fully cover the expenses involved in bringing our Sonya home, with additional funds to help George and Somepong cover some of their living expenses until they might able to get back to work. We cannot adequately express our gratitude for the way people have taken their story into their hearts. We are now just counting the days until we can enfold them back into our family here in Byron.
In the meantime people can continue to leave a message, and if they wish, a small donation which will contribute to any unforeseen costs that the family may face in dealing with their crisis.
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The enjoyment of a long anticipated holiday in rural Thailand was tragically cut short for my brother’s family of four when their youngest child, Sonya, aged 5 was killed in a motor cycle accident on Monday 18th January, 2016.
George and Somepong Davis and their children, Justin, 6 and Sonya, 5 had been experiencing Thai village life while staying on Somepong’s parents’ farm in Northern Thailand.
On the morning that they were due to fly back to Australia, Sonya accompanied her Thai grandmother to the local market on the family motorbike. While they were turning right, a car travelling at speed from behind ran into them throwing Sonya and Grandma-Noi onto the road. Grandma-Noi died on impact and Sonya survived the crash but was critically injured and was put on life support.
After five harrowing days for her family, Sonya lost her struggle for life and passed away in the early hours of 22 January 2016. Her mother, father and older brother, Justin are utterly devastated. Somepong’s grief is doubled having lost both her mother and daughter in this tragic accident.
Sonya’s parents now desperately want to bring their little daughter’s body back to Australia where she was born and to bury her in Byron Bay Cemetery where they can visit her regularly.
We are seeking financial support to repatriate Sonya’s body and cover the associated funeral costs in Thailand and Australia to help Sonya’s family grieve and heal and minimise their financial distress. We estimate that the overall costs will be at least $15, 000 which also includes a contribution towards helping them take some time off work to grieve the loss of their precious daughter.
Sonya was a sparky, happy child beloved to all of us and to her pre-school community. She was looking forward to starting ‘big school’- Byron Primary - this year. She loved music and dancing and wanted to study ballet. Sonya was very close to her big brother, Justin. They were best mates and played happily together. Justin will be bereft without her.
As a very close, extended family we are all completely shocked and grief-stricken at the loss of our little niece and granddaughter. And we are all part of a close community in Byron Bay who also share this loss with us.
We would appreciate any support you can offer Sonya's family whose lives have been cruelly changed forever.
Ana Davis and family -
(As a very close extended familly - aunts Ana Davis and Miranda Burne,uncle Ray Moynihan, grandmother Christine Willmot and the McCandless family - we are all completely shocked and grief-stricken…)
My deep condolence to the Davis family. My God heals your heart and passing this horrible time soon. Rip little Angel Sonya.