Paul Edden of the Kamala Police Volunteers said that since the story appeared in The Phuket News, the Hungarian Embassy in Bangkok had been in touch.
“They knew him. He was here in 2012 and it was exactly the same problem.”
Mr Gyula was found in Kamala on Saturday by locals and taken to the police station. He is a Hungarian national but lives in Switzerland. He told police he was staying at the Swissotel, but the hotel had no record of him.
Mr Edden said Mr Gyula has Alzheimer’s, and in 2012 his personal health insurance had covered his flight home from Phuket. It was hoped the same thing would happen this time.
Mr Edden thanked everyone who had shared the story on Facebook, because the police had earlier had trouble getting in touch with the Hungarian Embassy.
“Thanks to everyone for their help, the community has done a good thing, and the story reached the right people. He will in time be sent home.”
Mr Gyula is now under the care of the Phuket Town Tourist Police until a flight home is organised.