Peacock's family stranded in Bangkok

AAP | 29/11/08 | 0

Distraught England rugby league captain Jamie Peacock faces an anxious wait after his family - including his heavily pregnant wife - were stranded in Bangkok due to anti-government protests.
   
The inspirational forward is sweating on the safe return to England of his six-month pregnant wife Faye, his four-year-old son Lewis and his mother-in-law after protesters overran the Thai capital's international airport.
   
They were due to fly back on Monday but have instead become embroiled in the Thai political crisis.
   
"They have now effectively been held hostage for three days," Peacock told reporters in the UK.
   
"It's rather frustrating to be honest and I'm worrying as well. She's 31-weeks now, she's just on the limit of being able to fly back.
   
"I am also very worried the stress of this all could bring on an early labour - we only managed to conceive the second time due to IVF treatment.
   
"What if my wife has to give birth in Bangkok?"
   
A leader of the protesters has rejected a government offer of talks to end the stand-off.
   
The head of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy said his group would only agree to talks if Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigned.
   
Peacock said his family had been able to move out of the airport and find accommodation in Bangkok - but it had hardly eased his concerns.
   
"The protesters are effectively holding hostage thousands of innocent people," Peacock said.
   
"My wife needs to return to England to have an injection (for her pregnancy) immediately, having missed the appointment in England yesterday.
   
"These protesters are kidding themselves if they feel this protest is peaceful and harmless.
   
"What do my family have to do with the politics of Thailand?"
   
Peacock believed more could be done to help the thousands of people stuck at Bangkok after Suvarnabhumi International Airport was closed.
   
"I think the story has gone under (the radar) a little bit and more of an effort needs to be made to get all the people who are stuck there out of there, because the country is on the brink of a lot of trouble," he said.
   

They have now effectively been held hostage for three days Jamie Peacock, England captain