A couple from the UK whose video of part of their round-the-world cycle ride was recently chosen to feature in the annual Filmed By Bike festival have been killed by a pick-up truck in Thailand.
Peter Root and Mary Thompson, both aged 34, died last Wednesday in the province of Chachoengsao Province, immediately to the east of the capital, Bangkok.
The pair met 14 years ago while studying at art college in Falmouth, Cornwall, reports Metro. Peter was born on Jersey but grew up on Guernsey, while Mary was from Bristol, and the pair had exhibited their art throughout the UK.
Thailand was the 23rd country the couple had visited since leaving the UK 18 months ago, having ridden through Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South East Asia.
A spokesman for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said: “We are aware of the deaths of two British nationals in Thailand on Wednesday. We are providing consular assistance.”
At the end of January, the couple revealed on Twitter that their film Cycling Central Asia had been selected to be part of the 11th annual Filmed By Bike festival in Portland, Oregon. The video is one of several that the pair had made to record their journey and which they posted to Vimeo.
Cycling Central Asia from twoonfourwheels.com on Vimeo.
9 thoughts on “UK couple riding round world killed in Thailand just weeks after their film accepted for festival (+ video)”
RIP
I’m in Thailand at the
RIP 🙁
I’m in Thailand at the moment and while the people are lovely I don’t think I’d be too happy riding anywhere urban. Such a shame.
How very Sad. What a lovely
How very Sad. What a lovely Film. I need to get out more!
Mind you, holding on to a Lorry wouldn’t be my idea of fun.
Two amazing Lives cut very short.
I have been following their
I have been following their journey, some wild and wacky routes, but it seemed like good fun.
Even holding onto a massive truck to be pulled up hill. We’ve all done something like that, but when I was young, it was roller blades and the local buses 👿
Two great exploring cyclists lives cut short. Really sad 🙁
there is never any distant
there is never any distant right or wrong that is in any way meaningful when something like this happens – they look happy and fun – I feel sad that this happened but at the same time I am admiring that they were there doing what I can barely begin to dream about…. if I was to go I would always wish it would be doing something that was at least fun before hand…
Very sad to hear but at least
Very sad to hear but at least they died young, fit and doing something they loved – not to mention having seen some truly exotic places and amazing sights. Many of us will not be so lucky enough to be so bold.
How tragic. They seem like
How tragic. They seem like such fantastic people and so happy with what they did. God speed.
My wife has been friends with
My wife has been friends with Pete since her schooldays. My brother has been friends and work collegues with both Pete and Mary for many years, we are all desparately sad that this has happened to 2 wonderful and talented people. They will be greatly missed.
I have been following their
I have been following their blog since not long after they left and although I’d never met them, I feel like I’ve lost a couple of people I knew.
They were also both talented and accomplished artists:
http://www.peterroot.com/
http://www.marythompson.co.uk/
🙁
Seems the driver will get 10
Seems the driver will get 10 years for this. He was reaching for hat on floor of cab. In the uk he would probably get a 60 pound fine. If drivers in uk faced a 10 year jail sentence perhaps roads would be a little safer