Nonthaburi mourns loss of principal after tragic fall

A funeral ceremony was held for, a 56 year old acting principal of Wat Daeng School, who tragically passed away after falling from a school building roof he was repairing. The ceremony took place at Sala 1, Wat Daeng Thammachat, in the Sai Ma subdistrict of Nonthaburi.

Phutthawat Kongwong, the acting principal of Wat Daeng School in Nonthaburi, suffered fatal injuries after falling from the roof of the school’s building. He was repairing the roof, which was damaged by heavy rain when the accident occurred.

Despite being rushed to Phra Nang Klao Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The incident has left the school’s community in deep sorrow.

The Royal Bathing Rite for Phutthawat took place yesterday, September 24, attended by numerous family members, fellow teachers, students, and colleagues from the educational sector in Nonthaburi. The atmosphere was filled with grief as the community mourned the loss of a dedicated educator.

Thongsai Yenprasert, Chief Executive of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation, attended the ceremony. Thongsai praised Phutthawat’s dedication to his work and expressed his condolences to the family and the school’s community.

Phutthawat’s wife, 49 year old Waraluck Kongwong, shared her deep sorrow.

“He loved the school dearly and often stayed there to ensure everything was in order. I always urged him to come home more often because we missed him, but he was always busy. On the day of the accident, our child called to tell me he had fallen from the roof. I was devastated.”

Fall accident

Phutthawat’s close friend, Noppadon Onphueng, Principal of Wat Khaenok School, described him as a cheerful person who was loved by everyone. He recounted the day of the accident.

“A junior teacher informed me about the incident. I was heartbroken to lose such a dear friend and a dedicated colleague.”

Thongchai Yenprasert also added to the events of the tragic day.

“I was at home when I received the news. Immediately, I coordinated with Phra Nang Klao Hospital to ensure he received urgent care. I visited the school and hospital to assess the situation. Despite the doctors’ efforts, we lost a valuable and dedicated educator. Nonthaburi’s educational sector has lost a significant figure.”

The Royal Bathing Rite was the first of several ceremonies planned to honour Phutthawat. From today until September 28, daily chanting ceremonies will be held at 6:30pm. The cremation ceremony is scheduled for September 29 at 4pm at Wat Daeng Thammachat, reported KhaoSod.

Thongsai further explained the circumstances leading to the accident.

“The roof was previously damaged, and although warned against it, Phutthawat went up to repair it himself. It was dangerous work that should have been left to a professional. However, he was deeply concerned about the safety of his students and wanted the repairs done quickly. He even took silicone sealant with him to fix the leaks.”

The Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation will ensure that Phutthawat’s family receives all due benefits and support, said Thongsai.

“We have lost a dedicated and passionate educator. Moving forward, we will emphasise the importance of leaving repair work to professionals to prevent such tragedies. Phutthawat’s commitment to his students and colleagues will always be remembered.”