Butcher saves Thai boy’s 130km sidecar dash to see mum (video)

A Thai butcher rescued a 10 year old boy who secretly rode his grandmother’s sidecar motorcycle in an attempt to travel 130 kilometres to see his mother in the Isaan province of Buriram.

The butcher, whose shop is located on the roadside in the Sam Paniang sub-district in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima, sought help from the sub-district officials after encountering the young boy riding the sidecar motorcycle alone on Highway 207 on November 7.

According to a report on Channel 7, the boy stopped at the butcher’s shop to ask for directions to Satuek district in Buriram province. Noticing that the boy was unfamiliar with the community and travelling alone, the butcher reported the situation to the police.

The mayor of Sam Paniang sub-district, Warakorn Phuttipongpayam, arrived at the shop to collect the boy. During a conversation, the boy introduced himself as Tle, aged 10. He explained that he left his grandmother’s home in the Dan Khun Thot district of Nakhon Ratchasima to go and see his mother in Buriram.

The distance between his grandmother’s home and his mother’s home is over 130 kilometres. Tle admitted he took the sidecar motorcycle without permission and left the house around 6am that day.

The boy disclosed that he missed his mother and wanted to live with her. During the last school holiday, his mother picked him up to stay with her in Buriram. However, she had to send him back to his grandmother’s home when school resumed.

Saving money for fuel

Tle saved 10 baht each day until he had 100 baht. He then took the motorcycle, refuelled it with his savings, and began his journey. Unfamiliar with the route to Buriram, he asked people along the way until he reached the butcher’s shop.

Warakorn returned Tle to his grandmother’s home and gave him some money for future travel to Buriram. The mayor also advised Tle not to travel alone on the motorcycle again and offered his support, encouraging Tle to contact him if he ever needed assistance.

Tle’s mother, 40 year old Noonoi, later spoke to Channel 7, saying she was shocked to learn her son left home and set off on such a long motorcycle journey to see her. She explained that Tle frequently expressed his desire to be with her.

Noonoi revealed that she divorced Tle’s father, who expressed a desire for their son to live with him. However, the boy ended up living with his paternal grandmother. Noonoi said she has continued to care for and visit her son, and always brings him to her home province during school holidays.

Noonoi said she felt sorry for her son and said she wanted to fulfil his wish. However, she explained that she would need to discuss his relocation with his grandmother, as Tle often helped her with household chores and assisted in selling vegetables in the community.