Retrieval of Thai students’ bodies in California ‘first of its kind’

[webfact]

 

Retrieval of Thai students’ bodies in California ‘first of its kind’

By THE NATION

 

Photo courtesy of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office

 

FRESNO, CA: -- The US recovery operation that last Friday successfully retrieved the remains of the two Thai postgraduate students whose rented car plunged into Kings River in Fresno, California, on July 26 was the first of its kind and required almost 60 personnel and specialised equipment, including a purpose-built pulley.
 

Thairath online yesterday quoted Fresno County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Tony Botti as saying the operation was the first of its kind in 26 years, meaning there was no precedent to use as a reference to safely retrieve the bodies and car from the steep ravine, where it was partially submerged in a torrential river.

 

Both Thiwadee Saengsuriyarit, 24, and Bhakapon Chairattanasongporn, 28, were believed to have been killed in the crash.

 

Botti said a large pulley that had been made in southern California arrived in Fresno a week before the operation.

Officials from six related agencies spent a week planning and practising the recovery operation, he added.

 

According to the Facebook page of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles, about 55 personnel from the Fresno Sheriff County Search and Rescue (SAR), California Highway Patrol (CHP), CalTrans Department and volunteers participated in the recovery along Highway 180 and the Kings River starting at 5.30am on Friday. 

 

The SAR used a CHP helicopter to drop several deputies into the river with a cable, which the team attached to the 2016 Hyundai Sonata that had been stuck against a rock to pull it a short distance to a spot with slower moving water. Officials then opened the car’s doors, extricated the bodies and slowly hoisted them with the helicopter to the roadside, where a coroner’s unit was stationed.

 

Photo courtesy of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office

 

A drone was also used to record the recovery process. 

 

The victims’ family members met the transport team at Convict Flat Campground where a monk performed a brief Buddhist religious rite. 

 

Sheriff Margaret Mims had told the Consulate that the SAR team had practised the recovery protocol in a nearby area with a similar terrain before performing the actual recovery operation to ensure their safety and a successful result.

 

The team also gave their condolences to the victims’ families, she said.

 

Photo courtesy of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office

 

“I would like to thank the families of the victims for their patience and understanding during this long, difficult process. It’s always been our goal to deliver peace to you so that you could hold the necessary services for your loved ones. Hopefully, you may now move forward in the healing process.

 

I would also like to thank Thailand’s US Consulate office in Los Angeles and the greater Thai community for its support throughout this operational planning phase. Having an open line of communication and knowing you were by our side was invaluable.

 

 

“Finally, I want to thank our personnel and other agencies such as the CHP and Caltrans for their hard work of rising to the challenge and reaching a successful outcome. This truly was a team effort,” Mims said.

 

The remains, believed to be of the two South Florida University students, were then sent to the coroner’s office for autopsy and collection of fingerprints, dental records and possibly DNA samples to positively identify the bodies and the cause of death.

 

The identification process will take about a week. 

 

The victims will be cremated at the Thai funeral parlour PimanThai, which will provide services free of charge, before Bhakapon’s family will scatter his ashes over the water in Los Angeles. Thiwadee’s family will bring the ashes back to Thailand, the Facebook page said.

 

Efforts to retrieve the students’ bodies were delayed because of the high water levels and strong currents in the river as well as bad weather, which could have threatened the safety of the rescue teams. 

 

The delay had led to some criticism of US agencies who were viewed as not wanting to recover the bodies because the victims were Asian, not Americans, although US authorities have dismissed the allegation. 

 

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office decided to retrieve the remains last Friday as the flow of the river gradually decreased.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30325656

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-04

[Katipo]

Oh, I thought the Uncle and his angry entourage protesting at the "racist"  Americans had already retrieved the vehicle since it was apparent they knew more about search and rescue than the professionals. 

 

On a more serious note, this is a tragedy for all involved. And while I understand the victims families must have been distraught, they must understand the US agencies involved would have been doing all they can in the circumstances. Some gratitude, and a discreet apology would not be out of order.

 

RIP to the two students, and I am please that their bodies can be returned to their families.

[lucjoker]

The first in 26 y's ?.......It must not be easy to drive in there?

[Dustdevil]

The photos make it clear how steep the ravine is. I live by a river that becomes a rapids in the spring and somebody drowned in it not 200 yards from my balcony. It was hard enough and dangerous enough work retrieving that body even without a ravine.

[jaywalker]

26 minutes ago, lucjoker said:

The first in 26 y's ?.......It must not be easy to drive in there?

They were students in South Florida, which is flat as a pancake.

 

I'm from Central Florida, and just driving around anything with hills makes me as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

 

Sorry to hear about those ladies poor fate, but flat-landers do not cope well in mountainous terrain. At least I don't.

[dave_boo]

Hopefully the families get closure now.

 

It is telling about the Thai psyche that even though the US is the melting pot of the world and Asians make up ~6% of the population Thai think that foreigners can not become part of a nation and will always be treated as lesser...

[grumpyoldman]

Horrible tragedy, and yes in Northern CA lots of twists and turns, sorry to see that this driver missed the turn and went off what looks to be a very steep cliff.

 

WVAvin- of course here in the US they recover cars but if you were to understand the extent of the rescue mission and personnel involved, it's not like an inebriated Eastern Euro went off a relatively modest cape at Rawai viewpoint. Big cliffs in No. CA.

[HHTel]

51 minutes ago, jaywalker said:

 

 as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

 

 

With the risk of sounding flippant, I love that analogy.

 

R.I.P. the two students.

[Mrjlh]

It's called "Short Haul Rescue".  Been around since 1981. I use to teach it. The maximum length of rope used per the standard is 250 feet (75 meters). This lift and recovery required a much longer rope due to the depth.  Usually you pick straight up not side ways. To keep the car from falling apart initially they had perform a move that allowed the car to be lifted and dragged across the river to an area clear enough  on the other side where the bodies could be recovered. (Pics show this) This means the helicopter will get extremely close to opposite canyon wall. They had to practice this maneuver first.  For some reason unknown to me they had to use a special pulley to make this recovery happen.  This is why it is consider a "first time try" and a very successful one too.  Great job done on the part of all.

[Psychic]

Glad, for their families that they were able to recover the bodies.

 

The US is probably the best in the world at these sort of operations. And they have enormous resources.

So this must have been incredibly difficult.

 

In a narrow ravine and water that was flowing that fast the primary obligation is to make sure that no one in the recovery crew dies.

 

So, kudos to everyone involved for getting this done safely.

 

[sweatalot]

Good this has come to an end.

 

But I would expect gratitude from the Thai involved and a heartfelt apology from those  persons for their unjust and stupid critic and demands.

Probably they will not give even a wai

[Artisi]

27 minutes ago, SirBuwanaDogbossKing said:

No Americans do not usually drive over a cliff edge, unlike Thai and Chinese drivers.

Not usually, would you like to quantify that with some hard numbers as to  how many,  or isn't there any road deaths in the good old USA

[Psimbo]

4 hours ago, Ace of Pop said:

Would be interesting to know where the Driver attained his License?.?.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

What a crass comment, echoed by others above . Some of you people live extremely sad lives to need to comment like this.

Edited September 4, 2017 by Psimbo

[Ace of Pop]

Just now, Psimbo said:

What a crass comment.

Explain why you think so..?.

[Jimdandy]

5 hours ago, wvavin said:

"First of its kind" meaning the US does not usually recover wrecked cars after accidents. Stupid!

No, it means almost every driver from California and neighboring states know some of those ravines are so steep and deep recovery is next to impossible. Unfortunately tourists drive the highways in California like it is no big deal. If you have ever been to that part of the state and I have, you will know exactly why it said 'First of It's Kind'. Some of those cliffs are more than 200 feet straight down. 

 

My question is, as graduate students why didn't the believe the road signs which clearly point this out. 

 

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

[oldgent]

I wonder will the rescue team get any kind of response from Mr Prayut

 

[harrry]

Cost ofthe operation enormous.....they already knew that they would not be able to save a life.. 

They should do what the hospitals do here, present a bill for the operation which must be paid before the bodies are released.

Seriously there is a time when you have to say  60 people and much risk against a wait of a few months and only a small team to revover the bodies is better.

[Hank Gunn]

24 minutes ago, harrry said:

Cost ofthe operation enormous.....they already knew that they would not be able to save a life.. 

They should do what the hospitals do here, present a bill for the operation which must be paid before the bodies are released.

Seriously there is a time when you have to say  60 people and much risk against a wait of a few months and only a small team to revover the bodies is better.

[YetAnother]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

The delay had led to some criticism of US agencies who were viewed as not wanting to recover the bodies because the victims were Asian, not Americans, although US authorities have dismissed the allegation. 

you can be very very sure that if the nationalities and venues were reversed , we would be hearing a never-ending string of non-sensical excuses from the relevant people here; 

[metisdead]

Offensive troll posts and replies have been removed. 

[Mrjlh]

1 hour ago, harrry said:

Cost ofthe operation enormous.....they already knew that they would not be able to save a life.. 

They should do what the hospitals do here, present a bill for the operation which must be paid before the bodies are released.

Seriously there is a time when you have to say  60 people and much risk against a wait of a few months and only a small team to revover the bodies is better.

Won't ever happen in this case... paid for by the taxpayer unlike other countries. The rescue teams were combination of both volunteer and paid deputies. Can't prove negligence because there were no witnesses. An unfortunate accident.

[ALFREDO]

12 hours ago, jaywalker said:

They were students in South Florida, which is flat as a pancake.

 

I'm from Central Florida, and just driving around anything with hills makes me as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

 

Sorry to hear about those ladies poor fate, but flat-landers do not cope well in mountainous terrain. At least I don't.

 

If these ladies had not been from the few mountain regions in North Thailand, which have some higher mountains

and curvy roads, they surely had no practice driving in such terrain at all. 

 

Most of Thailand is flat, with some scattered hilly terrain - but no real mountain roads - 

Phuket Island,

there is a section over a hill to come to Patong Beach from Kathu - only few steep curves,

but uncountable accidents there as the Thais often Bus or Truck drivers from other provinces,

do not know how to cope with that steep curves and sharp turns. 

[Artisi]

17 hours ago, Ace of Pop said:

Explain why you think so..?.

How about explaining such a stupid comment you started out with. 

[Ace of Pop]

Because just a Thai Licence for privalidged children means nothing. often just bought by Momey over here, a US Licence means up to a Standard, not a Price. Also Rental Companies turn down Renters that they doubt hold both brains or quality licence, they aint PC Wimps.Our Son was refused by Hertz in London years ago, and rightly so.

[seminomadic]

22 hours ago, Katipo said:

they must understand the US agencies involved would have been doing all they can in the circumstances. Some gratitude, and a discreet apology would not be out of order.

NOOOOOOOOOOO    WWWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Apologizing would involve a loss of face. And I'm sure that's below their dignity, even if done discreetly.

 

[khwaibah]

16 minutes ago, Ace of Pop said:

Because just a Thai Licence for privalidged children means nothing. often just bought by Momey over here, a US Licence means up to a Standard, not a Price. Also Rental Companies turn down Renters that they doubt hold both brains or quality licence, they aint PC Wimps.Our Son was refused by Hertz in London years ago, and rightly so.

 Rental car companies in the US accept  Thai DL. Been using my Thai Dl for over ten years to do so and it was not bought.

Edited September 5, 2017 by khwaibah

[Ace of Pop]

1 minute ago, khwaibah said:

 Rental car companies in the US accept  Thai DL. Being using my Thai Dl for over ten years to do so. 

I think you are not a spotty Oik or Thai, and over 25, i only have a Thai Licence these days but were talking inexperiance Asian Children i thought, but ive finished, its heading away from an accident and inexperiance issue.

[Artisi]

20 minutes ago, Ace of Pop said:

Because just a Thai Licence for privalidged children means nothing. often just bought by Momey over here, a US Licence means up to a Standard, not a Price. Also Rental Companies turn down Renters that they doubt hold both brains or quality licence, they aint PC Wimps.Our Son was refused by Hertz in London years ago, and rightly so.

Maybe Hertz were happy with the licence but not the second criteria you were so happy to point out. 

[khwaibah]

17 minutes ago, Ace of Pop said:

I think you are not a spotty Oik or Thai, and over 25, i only have a Thai Licence these days but were talking inexperiance Asian Children i thought, but ive finished, its heading away from an accident and inexperiance issue.

 

"Our Son was refused by Hertz in London years ago, and rightly so."

 

There ar many reasons for a rental company for turning down a request but a Thai license holder or being Thai is not one of them. BTW I personally know of numerous UK nationals that use their Thai DL when renting a car in the UK.

[tomwct]

The probably bought their Thai Licenses, so they never learned about road signs or how to drive on mountain roads! RIP to the Families!