Homeless hero saves man drowning in Bangkok canal

By The Nation

 

 

A homeless hero jumped into a Bangkok canal and saved the life of a drowning man early on Thursday morning.

 

Sanguan Kaenreung, 50, didn't hesitate to leap into the cold waters of the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem canal at 5.42am to rescue Somkid Khaoyai, 57, while police and others were standing on the bank formulating a rescue plan. 

 

Sanguan said he had just been given a meal box from a kind-heart person and was beginning to eat it when he heard the call for help. 

 

"I can swim and I feared the person might die so I ran to the spot. I saw he was about to give in, so I jumped in to help him right away," he said.

 

Sanguan managed to grab the man before he passed out and keep his head above water. Police threw him a lifebuoy ring to hang onto and he then managed to get himself and the victim out of water near Hua Lamphong train station.

 

After receiving first-aid, Somkid was rushed to a hospital, while bystanders praised Sanguan for his heroic action.

 

Sanguan later told reporters that he has been homeless for many years as he had no family and he had no place to stay.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30361535

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-03

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sanguan later told reporters that he has been homeless for many years as he had no family and he had no place to stay.

 

You would like to think that when the guy he saved gets out of hospital, he will show his appreciation and try to do something about that.

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sanguan Kaenreung, 50, didn't hesitate to leap into the cold waters of the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem canal at 5.42am to rescue Somkid Khaoyai, 57, while police and others were standing on the bank formulating a rescue plan

<deleted>! I bet they were forming a committee to discuss it. Well done to the life-saver.

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sanguan later told reporters that he has been homeless for many years as he had no family and he had no place to stay.

You are a real hero now I hope that this man will save your life and help you with a room for better life 

 

A troll post and a reply has been removed.

This guy didn't have anything to lose. I wouldn't try saving a drowning person. It's too dangerous. 

A drowning person will drag you down with them.

@seahorse

 

More than likely, the homeless man saw how he could help; be of use to another person. He had empathy.

 

Just now, seahorse said:

This guy didn't have anything to lose. I wouldn't try saving a drowning person. It's too dangerous. 

A drowning person will drag you down with them.

Your avatar suggests you're a good swimmer but judging by your words I hope you never found yourself in need of help in the water.

A troll post has been removed. 

56 minutes ago, seahorse said:

This guy didn't have anything to lose. I wouldn't try saving a drowning person. It's too dangerous. 

A drowning person will drag you down with them.

 

44 minutes ago, bannork said:

Your avatar suggests you're a good swimmer but judging by your words I hope you never found yourself in need of help in the water.

 

Seahorse is 100% correct. And bannork maybe you should follow some kind of first aid class, or a rescue class cause that is the first thing the instructors teach you. The guideline is to find some kind of line, rope etc to toss out to the drowning person. According to my first aid teacher even a small child can drag a person under.

And BTW no one wants to find him or herself in need of help in the water, so the smart thing to do is avoid situations that can get you in trouble.

51 minutes ago, LazySlipper said:

 

 

Seahorse is 100% correct. And bannork maybe you should follow some kind of first aid class, or a rescue class cause that is the first thing the instructors teach you. The guideline is to find some kind of line, rope etc to toss out to the drowning person. According to my first aid teacher even a small child can drag a person under.

And BTW no one wants to find him or herself in need of help in the water, so the smart thing to do is avoid situations that can get you in trouble.

If you aren't a good swimmer, or lack the confidence for an actual rescue, I agree with your assessment.

 

However, if you are a good swimmer (as K. Sanguan states in the OP) and somebody's life is in imminent danger, I strongly agree with his decision to attempt a rescue. It is sage advice given by your instructor, but I for one couldn't standby and watch someone die if I thought there was a chance of saving them regardless of any advice given while others hold a meeting deciding on what to do. 

17 hours ago, Henrik Andersen said:

You are a real hero now I hope that this man will save your life and help you with a room for better life 

 

In another way - If he wasn't homeless he would most probably not have been able to save him so to help him with a room may prevent him to save other - maybe better to provide free daily street meals which seems to have trigged a helping hand on this occasion...

Edited January 4, 20197 yr by ttrd

19 hours ago, webfact said:

police and others were standing on the bank formulating a rescue plan

Love this part, not!

 

Quote

Police threw him a lifebuoy ring to hang onto and he then managed to get himself and the victim out of water

Why did't they do this immediately? No need to discuss a rescue plan.

2 hours ago, chrisinth said:

I for one couldn't standby and watch someone die if I thought there was a chance of saving them regardless of any advice given while others hold a meeting deciding on what to do.

 

I agree and I broke this rule and after the fact I feel I should not have risked my own life. I was once on a canoe expedition and one of the canoes tipped over in heavy rapids. The canoe that tipped over was the last to go through the rapids. So I jumped in to rescue the girl that was still hanging on to the canoe. Fortunately I go the canoe to stop, but in hindsight I should have stayed put. We were 1320 miles from any civilization and being a hero could have been the end of me. 

 

The funny thing is is that I was the only one who jumped into the rapids. All the others were too scared to do anything about it. Guess self preservation is the key word here.

4 hours ago, seahorse said:

This guy didn't have anything to lose. I wouldn't try saving a drowning person. It's too dangerous. 

A drowning person will drag you down with them.

The man did have something to lose, his life.

5 hours ago, bannork said:

Your avatar suggests you're a good swimmer but judging by your words I hope you never found yourself in need of help in the water.

Very noble of you. But foolish.

Three friends drown

Two men drown

QUIZ

How long does it take the RTP to formulate a rescue plan?

* One hour

** One week

*** One year

**** Never - the victim died of old age before one could be agreed.

homeless man has more courage than police guys which are entitled to protect by law and by taxes they receive from us!!!

8 hours ago, LazySlipper said:

cause that is the first thing the instructors teach you. The guideline is to find some kind of line, rope etc to toss out to the drowning person.

Well, obviously the police officers had all that, but for some reason hesitated to throw 'a life line' to the man in distress. Hence the reason the "homeless man" had to intervene and take control of the situation.

Why did't they do this immediately? No need to discuss a rescue plan.

Sorry to say I disagree with you here .... they executed the rescue plan .. which after due process ... was to throw the life saver .. :-)


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13 hours ago, seahorse said:

This guy didn't have anything to lose. I wouldn't try saving a drowning person. It's too dangerous. 

A drowning person will drag you down with them.

I was instructed during my boy scout days (13 years old) to approach a drowning man from behind if possible and if he struggle or try to grap you to punch him right in the face so he will relax and you drag him by his hair. Doesn't matter if he drinks a lot of water that will be dealt with later.

Edited January 4, 20197 yr by madusa
add more words

1 minute ago, madusa said:

I was instructed during my boy scout days (13 years old) to approach a drowning man from behind if possible and if he struggle to punch him right in the face so he will relax and you drag him by his hair. Doesn't matter if he drinks a lot of water that will be dealt with later.

I never knew the scouts were so violent!

'punch him right in the face so he will relax'- sounds more like a policeman being tried for assault, and his defence statement, ha ha!

8 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I never knew the scouts were so violent!

'punch him right in the face so he will relax'- sounds more like a policeman being tried for assault, and his defence statement, ha ha!

Of course there were other instructions like how to loosen the grip and push him away from you. But in the event that the drowning man grip is not doing you any good then you have to punch him hard. That's doing the right thing to save yourself and the victim.

We were training for Sea-scouts wearing navy hat(white round)little ribbons at the back with white navy shirt and brown stockings just like the navy in the early 50s. Quite interesting, learn to sail & row boat, read the tide, tie knots. Oh of course the flags signals you have to pass that exam for "Queen Scout Badge" the badge of honor.