Belgian tourist injured by loose wire in Pattaya, safety concerns raised

A 61 year old Belgian tourist in Pattaya suffered a harrowing ordeal when a sharp metal wire pierced his palm while he was walking near a traffic light box at the Grand Condo Thepprasit intersection in Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province.

The incident unfolded in the late hours of November 29.

The foreigner, identified as Philippe Leoncuan Damme, suffered moderate injuries to his left palm due to a loose metal wire tied around a guy wire, which was attached to a high-voltage electrical pole. The 10-centimetre-long pointed end of the wire impaled his palm. Sawang Boriboon rescue teams arrived promptly, rescuing Damme and transporting him to Pattaya Bangkok Hospital for treatment.

Witnesses and local media reported that the metal wire causing the accident was installed on a pedestrian walkway. It was one of several long and pointed wires used to secure guy anchors, all located in the centre of the walkway.

Each wire had sharp, untethered ends, presenting a significant hazard to pedestrians. The occurrence of Damme’s injury underscores the potential danger of these wires to people passing by.

A member of the Sawang Boriboon rescue teams revealed that it took about five minutes to rescue the Belgian tourist. However, by the time they found Damme, he was already weakened by the injury.

The cause of the accident seems to point to Damme tripping over something on the walkway. As he was about to fall, he tried to grab onto something for support, but his hand instead met the sharp end of the wire, reported Pattaya News.

The authorities of Pattaya City are currently investigating the matter. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians and tourists in the area and emphasised the need for immediate rectification of such hazardous conditions.

In related news, a significant initiative has been launched in Phuket, with the city’s Municipality signing a deal to bury power cables underground along three major roads. Read more about this story HERE.