Two men have died after a crane attempting to lift a flooded car struck an overhead electricity wire in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, near Bangkok early on Sunday 27 September 2026.
Crane operator Sittiphop Meesamrit, 31, was electrocuted and fell into floodwater more than 1.20 metres deep. Homeowner Thanakrit Chimphalee, 40, a former Thailand national football team assistant coach known as “Coach Rak”, then went to help him and suffered a second fatal electric shock.
The incident was reported at 1.20am on September 27 outside house number 55/10, Moo 15, in Java Bay Village on King Kaeo 19 Road, Bang Phli Yai Subdistrict. Initial reports to police said one person had died and two were injured.
Car recovery ended in fatal electric shock
Days of heavy rain had inundated the housing estate, leaving water around the property above 1.20 metres deep and submerging Mr Thanakrit's car.
Mr Thanakrit had hired Mr Sittiphop to lift the vehicle onto higher ground. Mr Sittiphop, who lived in Bang Chak Subdistrict in Phra Pradaeng District, arrived in a white Hino six-wheel crane truck, registered in Bangkok.
According to Mr Thanakrit's wife, Nattaporn Chimphalee, 42, the tip of the crane accidentally touched an electrical wire as the submerged vehicle was being lifted.
Mr Sittiphop was shocked and fell into the water. Mr Thanakrit, who was nearby, tried to assist the crane operator but was also electrocuted and fell into the flooded area.
Neighbours pulled Mr Thanakrit from the water, but he had died by the time emergency workers arrived. Rescue staff recovered Mr Sittiphop, performed CPR and took him to Chulalongkorn 9 Hospital, where he later died.
Mrs Nattaporn contacted the electricity company to ask for power to be cut after the incident.
Deep water delayed access for rescuers
Pol Lt Sarun Masang, a deputy investigator at Bang Kaeo Police Station, attended with a doctor from Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodin Hospital and Ruam Katanyu Foundation rescue workers.
Flooding across the estate prevented ordinary emergency vehicles from reaching the house, forcing teams to use a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Police are reconstructing the incident and have asked witnesses to attend Bang Kaeo Police Station for formal questioning. Mr Thanakrit's body was sent to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodin Hospital for a post-mortem examination under standard legal procedures.
Picture courtesy of Daily News
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28 September 2026
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