SCREENSHOT: Newshawk Phuket

On October 12, a pick-up truck was involved in a horrific road incident on Ban Dok Daeng – Ban Bangsai, Takuapa, in Phang Nga. Luckily the driver, a local policeman, survived but was trapped inside the vehicle while emergency responders figured out how to get him out.

The vehicles was in such bad shape that the rescue team had to use the hydraulic jaws to pry open the car and rescue the trapped driver, Pol. Snr. Sgt. Chainarong Waratikul, from Talad Yai Police Station, in Takuapa.

The blue Isuzu pick-up truck, with Phang Nga plates, crashed into a high-voltage electric pole and almost completely destroyed the front and side of the car, especially on the driver’s side where the roof collapsed.

The rescue was difficult as the crushed roof was pressing the driver into the seat and the team had to use a machine to cut open the roof into pieces, which took about half an hour, before they managed to get him out and then rushed him to the Bangsai Hospital.

He told the team that he was driving alone from the police station and when he arrived at the scene of the crash, a sharp curve, he was feeling exhausted and probably fell asleep, losing control of the car resulting in the accident.

STORY: Newshawk Phuket

PHOTO: L’Etape Thailand by Le Tour De France

Thailand will be the first country in ASEAN to attract the world-class cycling event to Thailand for local and international cyclists to experience a challenging and scenic ride on a course comparable to the world’s most popular cycling event, The Tour De France.

The event is being held around Khao Lak in Phang Nga on October 27.

Another dugong, the 21st this year, has been found dead, trapped in fish net in the sea off Khura Buri district in Phang Nga. Khura Buri is north of Khao Lak.

Marine biologist and vice dean of the Fisheries Faculty at Kasetsart University, Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, reported today that 21 deaths was the highest number recorded in one year for the endangered sea mammals in Thailand.

Thai PBS World reports that Dr. Thon says the dugong found in the sea off Laem Mai Tai, Ban Thung Rak in Khura Buri district, which is abundant with sea grass (the staple food of dugongs) is one of the 12 zones under the new “Mariam Project” which works towards the conservation of the region’s dugongs.

Dr. Thon said the latest dugong victim drowned after becoming ensnared in the fish net, adding that dugong breathe air and will drown if trapped under water for too long.

Since 90% of dugong fatalities have been caused by humans, mostly by fishing equipment discarded near protected dugong feeding grounds, Dr. Thon stressed the need for proper planning to ensure better co-existence with sea mammals and other marine creatures

He expressed hope that the Mariam Project, named after the baby dugong ‘Mariam‘, will be approved by the cabinet so that there will be funding to implement the project to protect dugongs in the 12 proposed protected zones.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World

PHOTO: Thai PBS World