Young woman’s body found after motorcycle abandoned on bridge
The body of a young woman was found dead in a river after her motorcycle was discovered parked on a bridge. The tragic suspected suicide incident unfolded yesterday at 9am when the Sajja Phutthatham Kabinburi Rescue Unit received a report from locals noticing a girl on the municipal bridge in Kabinburi.
Shortly after, only her motorcycle and a pair of sandals were found on the bridge, raising immediate concerns.
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities inspected the blue Honda motorcycle with Prachinburi registration plates. Inside the vehicle, they discovered an identification card belonging to a 23 year old woman, Arada, along with her patient ID from the Neurological Institute and a pair of sandals. Despite a thorough search around the bridge, Arada was not immediately found, prompting the rescue team to initiate a water search.
A 50 year old resident, Vinai, reported seeing a girl sitting on the bridge railing, holding a phone, before she suddenly disappeared, leaving behind her bike and sandals. This observation led the rescue team to focus their search efforts on the water.
After approximately 40 minutes of searching, the divers from the Sajja Phutthatham Foundation located Arada’s body about 50 metres from the bridge. Her body was retrieved and brought to shore, where it awaited further examination by the police to determine the exact cause of death.
Arada, also known as Ice, was the daughter of Kritsada Wongdeelert, a former doctor at Kabinburi Hospital and a graduate of Chulalongkorn University. Kritsada had passed away due to a bloodstream infection contracted while treating patients. Tragically, Arada’s mother also died in an accident, leaving Arada to be cared for by her 88 year old grandmother, Boonnak.
Ice’s life was fraught with challenges from a young age. She suffered from epilepsy, and her grandmother, who was of limited means, raised her by collecting recyclable materials. This led to their story being picked up by reporters, which subsequently garnered attention and support from Kritsada’s former medical colleagues and the public.
Donations were made, and Ice received treatment for her epilepsy, eventually overcoming the condition. However, she continued to struggle with depression, said Vinai.
“Seeing her on the bridge that morning, I didn’t think anything was seriously wrong until she disappeared.”
The police are continuing their investigation to uncover more details surrounding Arada’s death, while the community mourns the loss of a young woman who endured so much hardship in her life. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mental health support and the profound impact of loss and trauma on individuals.
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.
