- Photo: The Nation/ANN
PATTAYA, (Thailand): A postman narrowly escaped tragedy after falling into an abandoned artesian well nearly 10 metres deep in the middle of the night, according to a local report on Saturday (Sept 7).
The man spent hours shouting for help until a passing motorcyclist heard his cries in the early morning.
At 9am, the Rescue Unit of the Sawang Boriboon Thammastan Foundation in Pattaya City received an alert about a person trapped in an underground well near Khao Talo Soi 11, Moo 10, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chonburi province.
Rescue volunteers and officers from the Nong Prue Municipal Defence Department were promptly dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, rescuers discovered an abandoned artesian well about 5 metres from the roadside, with a depth of about 8 metres, equivalent to a two-to-three-storey building.
At the bottom stood a Thai man, later identified as Somwang Khonkaen, 40, a postal delivery worker. He was found in a state of exhaustion, shirtless, and standing in chest-high water.
The rescue team utilised a crane to lower a sling into the well and successfully extracted him in less than 10 minutes.
He was immediately given first aid before being taken to hospital for a thorough medical examination.
Somwong recounted that around midnight, while riding his motorcycle home, he had stopped to relieve himself in a grassy area because of intoxication and a pressing need to urinate.
Unaware of the well's presence, he fell in, but was fortunately saved from serious injury by the water and muddy soil at the bottom.
For nearly eight hours, Somwong desperately called for help, his cries going unheard until morning.
Despite numerous attempts to climb out, he remained trapped until his rescue.
Tukta Sawasdee, a 41-year-old ride-hailing-app driver, was instrumental in Somwong's rescue.
While waiting for passengers in the area, she heard cries for help and, after investigating, discovered the man at the bottom of the well. Shocked by the sight, she immediately alerted the authorities.
Local residents expressed surprise that someone had fallen into the well, saying most people in the area were aware of its existence.
They said the well, situated on government land, had been abandoned for a decade.
Concerns were raised about the safety of children playing in the vicinity, with calls for authorities to address the hazard and prevent future incidents.
The rescue serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by abandoned infrastructure and the importance of community vigilance and prompt action in emergencies. - The Nation/ANN
