Lucky escape for mother, baby as Phuket hillside resort wall collapses

PHUKET: A mother and her 3-month-old baby boy made a lucky escape as a wall from a Phuket hillside resort came crashing down on their home in Patong on Saturday morning.

Responding to a call at 9:45am, Patong Police officers led by Lt Col Pratuang Polmana and rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation rushed to the scene, below The Senses Resort and Spa in Soi Nanai 1.

“Atchara Jutisen, 28, and her baby boy Attawat ‘Big’ Chottantikul were in their house when the accident happened,” said Lt Col Pratuang.

“Luckily, nobody was in the house next door, which was also damaged,” he added.

Ms Atchara and young Attawat were taken to Patong Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

“Me and my baby were in the house, then I heard a very loud noise – like thunder – crashing onto our roof,” Ms Atchara told police at the hospital.

“I was very frightened. I ran as fast as I could to get to my baby and protect him before the roof fell on us.

“I have a cut on my head, but it is such a miracle that my baby is safe. He only cried because the loud noise scared him,” she said.

Col Pratuang said his officers were now looking into why the four-meter boundary wall collapsed.

“Police will contact the hotel owner to ensure responsibility for the damage [to the houses] is recognized. At this stage, the damage is estimated to be about 300,000 baht,” Col Pratuang said.

“We will also contact the relevant departments to ask that they investigate construction being done at the site,” he added.

— Thawit Bilabdullar