Thai mother’s long drive to Samut Songkhram to report son’s death

A Thai mother from Surin faced a tragic ordeal when her son died in their car while travelling from Satun. She drove over 100 kilometres to report the incident in Samut Songkhram early today.

The Thai mother, 52 year old Siripak from Rangaeng, Sikhoraphum, Surin, reported the death of her son at the Mueang Samut Songkhram Police Station at 7.30am today, July 25. She informed Police Lieutenant Woraboon Boonmak that her son had passed away in their Isuzu D-Max pickup truck.

Dr Apisak Sutanon, an on-duty doctor at Somdet Phra Phutthaloetla Hospital, and rescue officials from Sawang Benjatham Foundation joined the investigation. The deceased, 30 year old Jiraphan, was found on the passenger seat, wrapped in white and pink blankets. Officials estimated that he had been dead for at least three hours, as his body was already stiff.

Siripak recounted that her son had been working in Malaysia but had suffered an accident, hitting his forehead on the ground. He experienced headaches and vomiting and was treated at Satun Hospital. Yesterday, she and her new husband drove from their home in Surin to pick him up.

Upon reaching the hospital in Satun, her son appeared to be in better condition but wished to continue his treatment at their hometown hospital in Surin. They took him into their vehicle and began the journey.

During the trip, Jiraphan complained of thirst and feeling cold, so they gave him a blanket and allowed him to rest. Around 2am, Siripak needed to use the restroom and stopped at a petrol station on Phetkasem Road in Phetchaburi. She attempted to wake her son, only to find him unresponsive and stiff.

In shock and unsure of what to do, she continued driving, hoping to find a hospital along the way. As dawn broke, she noticed the building of the Sawang Benjatham Foundation Rescue Unit on Rama II Road and sought help there, only to learn that her son had already passed away. Rescue officials then escorted her to the Mueang Samut Songkhram Police Station to report the death.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Jiraphan’s underlying condition might have worsened while he was resting in the car, leading to his death. Siripak did not suspect foul play concerning her son’s death. The officials handed over the body to the family for religious rites in their hometown in Surin, reported KhaoSod.