Ferris wheel cabin door falls off and knocks out Isaan man

A young Thai man was attending the Red Cross Fair in Buriram province, northeast Thailand, last week when a 20 kilogramme Ferris wheel cabin door fell on top of him from a height of 10 metres and knocked him out.

A rescue team rushed to the event in Lam Prai Mart district to give first aid to 21 year old Sutthiwat Kruephimai.

Sutthiwat sustained a wound on his head and bruises all over his body but luckily didn’t have any life-threatening injuries.

After Sutthiwat recovered, he told the media that he went to the fair with his grandparents and a 7 year old relative.

Sutthiwat waited nearby while his grandmother and the child rode the Ferris wheel.

Just as the pair finished the ride and stepped out of their Ferris wheel cabin, Sutthiwat said he heard a louse noise above his head. Moments later, a door fell from the sky and knocked him out.

Sutthiwat’s family were all shocked but not injured.

The Ferris wheel operator, 38 year old Natthapon Kloy-on, said that he compensated the victim with 2,000 baht. Natthapon said he was willing to take full responsibility. If the victim’s condition worsened he would be willing to pay more compensation, he added.

Natthapon isn’t sure how the incident happened but thinks that some customers may have unlocked their cabin door while the Ferris wheel was still moving, hitting the Ferris wheel’s main structure causing it to fall off.

The district administrative officers investigated the scene after the accident happened and emphasised the security measures to every ride operator at the Red Cross Fair to avoid any more incidents.

Many Thai netizens said the compensation was too small compared to the danger that the victim faced. The Ferris wheel operator did not face any charges for causing the accident either.

KhaoSod reported that the victim, Sutthiwat, is now in a safe condition and was discharged from hospital yesterday.