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Three Etobicoke couples stranded by anti-government riots in Bangkok, Thailand since last month are due to arrive back in Toronto Friday, Dec. 5.

Barbara and Douglas Kerr, Nancy and Terry Dockerill, and Carol and Mike Cunnane set out for an Asian cruise vacation in late October - but their month-long trip was unexpectedly extended by a tumultuous eight days when protestors took over the capital city's main airports the day before they were scheduled to leave.

While half of the 80 or so Canadians travelling with their tour group were evacuated Tuesday, the 'grueling' travel plans - an eight-hour bus ride, followed by 18 hours of flight time - proved too much for the Etobicoke couples, said John Kerr, son of Barbara and Douglas Kerr.

But with their prescription medication supplies running low, and their health deteriorating due to stress and frustration, the Kerr family said they were fearing for their parents' lives.

"My brother (David) and I had a discussion the other day, and we didn't want their mood - their depression and sadness - causing them to get caught further," John said, noting that Barbara and Douglas, both in their 70s, recently became overrun by colds.

"The devil you know is better than the one you don't, so if they continued to just sit there, they could have ended up stuck for months."

The Etobian exodus from Thailand began early Thursday morning, when they were escorted by Canadian Embassy officials by bus to an airport four hours outside of Bangkok. From there, they flew to Samui Island in the southern part of the country, and transferred to a flight to Hong Kong. Air Canada agreed to send in a plane, and the remaining tour group participants are expected to arrive in Toronto around 6 p.m. tonight.

The resolution came as a relief to Etobicoke Centre MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, who stepped in to assist when he learned of his constituents' plight last Sunday.

"In speaking with the seniors, it became apparent that they were all past being on the verge of tears. They were past being distraught," he said of his long distance phone conversations with the couples. "Our seniors are fragile and I'm relieved that we found a resolution."