Thai woman seeks justice after alleged snake bite in Bangkok cinema

A Thai woman is demanding proper compensation from a cinema in the Rama II neighbourhood of Bangkok, claiming she was bitten by a snake while watching a film on July 31.

The 27 year old businesswoman, Kornphaphiporn Poka-imsin, brought her story to non-profit organisation Saimai Survive. She stated that she incurred 25,000 baht in medical expenses but received only 6,990 baht in compensation, as the cinema believed the animal involved was a rat, not a snake.

Kornphaphiporn told the organisation that the incident occurred when she was watching a film with her family at 5pm on July 31. She was wearing flipflops and felt something move over her foot. Shortly afterwards, she was bitten by an unidentified animal and rushed out of the cinema for first aid.

Concerned about the bite, Kornphaphiporn decided to seek further examination at a nearby hospital. She received a tetanus injection and stayed overnight to monitor her symptoms.

According to Kornphaphiporn, the medical team agreed that she might have been bitten by a snake, but they were unable to identify the species, so she did not receive antivenom treatment.

The total medical cost was 25,000 baht, and Kornphaphiporn asked a representative of the cinema to cover the expense. The representative reportedly refused to pay initially, instead asking her to pay the bill herself and then request a refund with the receipt.

Kornphaphiporn stated that she brought the receipt to the cinema but was unable to claim the full amount of her expenses. The cinema offered her only 6,990 baht, which she declined, deciding instead to share her story with the public to seek justice. The representative and staff at the cinema insisted that the animal was likely a rat, not a snake.

She believes the cinema should take greater responsibility for her situation, as the venue should be safe for visitors and not a habitat for any animals, particularly snakes or rats.

Saimai Survive founder Ekkaphop Lueangprasert agreed with Kornphaphiporn, stating that the cinema should have insurance to cover any dangers faced by its patrons. The organisation has not disclosed the next steps to support Kornphaphiporn in her quest for justice.