Local man drowns while clearing debris from Ranong drainage pipe

A local man tragically lost his life yesterday while attempting to clear debris from a drainage pipe in Ranong, Thailand. A 52 year old man saw the blockage and selflessly decided to help but was pulled into the pipe by the strong water current.

The incident occurred, yesterday, September 16, at 10.10am near Wang Matcha, Wat Pathum Thararam, Moo 3, Kapoe subdistrict, Kapoe district. Police officer Anuchit Pandam received the report of a man drowning at the scene.

When police arrived, they found Nopphon’s body, dressed in a purple sports shirt and black shorts, lying lifeless by the roadside next to the drainage canal. Residents managed to retrieve his body from the water.

The investigation revealed that Ranong had experienced continuous heavy rainfall for several days, causing water levels in the canal to rise and overflow onto the road. The drainage pipe at the accident site was clogged with branches and aquatic weeds.

Nopphon, passing by, noticed the obstruction and decided to volunteer to clear it. As he stood by the bank, attempting to remove the debris blocking the pipe, he lost his balance and was pulled in by the strong water flow. The swift current sucked him into the pipe, causing him to drown almost immediately.

Residents were unable to rescue him in time due to the force of the water, and his body eventually passed through the drainage pipe, emerging lifeless. Police performed an initial examination at the scene, and his relatives did not question the cause of death. Nopphon’s body was then taken for funeral rites, amidst the sorrow of the local community who witnessed the incident.

In related news, a Thai man managed to get trapped in a drainage pipe for two days after a fishing trip in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. Fortunately, a garbage collector heard his cries for help and promptly reeled in a rescue team on March 4.