Crash victim was a firefighting volunteer, not drunk, say officials

[snoop1130]

Crash victim was a firefighting volunteer, not drunk, say officials

By Tossapol Boonpat 
The Nation

 

 

A 50-year-old motorcyclist, who died when he encountered an out-of-control forest fire on a dirt road in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district on Sunday afternoon, was not drunk as previously reported, officials said on Tuesday.

 

In fact he had been on his way to help the authorities put out the fire, not just returning to his farm, they explained.

 

On Sunday afternoon, police found Burin Thaweekijbowornkul’s lifeless body 10 metres from his toppled and burned-out motorcycle on the road at Mae Or (Moo 3) village in Tambon Mae Yuam Noi, where he came across the blaze, reportedly succumbed to smoke inhalation and died. 

 

In previous Thai news reports, Burin was said to have to be in a drunken state after having drinks with friends before setting out on his journey, an account which his relatives and the local authorities have now dismissed.

 

Tambon Mae U-Khor Administrative Organisation member Somchai Kichakornrungroj said on Tuesday that he, Burin and Burin’s younger brother Thanomsak Thaweekijbowornkul heard a report of a forest fire near a farm belonging to Burin’s father so they travelled on separate vehicles to offer help. 

 

As they were neared their destination, another forest fire aty the back of the farm sent thick smoke billowing in front of Burin’s bike, suffocating him and rendering him unable to get away, he said. 

 

The report of Burin being drunk had tarnished his family, which was now without its breadwinner and in need of aid, Somchai said. Burin, a member of a local network keeping watch for forest fires, left behind his mute wife and their two children.

 

This account of Burin dying while on a help-offering mission was confirmed by Khun Yuam district chief Narongchai Jindapan, who cited a report of this incident by a Mae Or village headman.

 

A resident in Tambon Mae U-khor, Noi Khongkhetkhram, 66, verified the account of Burin dying while on his way to help put out a forest fire. He said Mae Hong Son had suffered from several forest fires recently so villagers had been asked to aid officials to put off fires in their areas, on a voluntary basis and without pay.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30367417

 

- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-09

[observer90210]

One day he is...next day he is not.....what is for sure is that the poor man is dead and so RIP to his soul.

[sammieuk1]

His drinking friends were obviously drunk to and imagined he was drunk or even there instead he is going down the road to fight a fire and inexplicably falling into one causing his untimely death. how bizarre just don't sound right to me  but "relatives and the local authorities have now dismissed"????RIP

[cardinalblue]

Image is more important than facts...so highly unlikely to get what really truly happened...

 

fire fighting volunteer is an actually position so my guess lost in english Language translation... 

[farq]

How do you suppose that fire fighting volunteer got lost in translation?! I suppose for somebody who obviously has never gotten off their posterior and done something to assist their community, you would be of that mistaken illusion. I had 34 years experience as a volunteer fire fighter along with thousands of others volunteers in Australia and I know that a similar thing happens here in Thailand. Shame on you!

[Inepto Cracy]

Strange picture to use, everything is burnt out except a flip-flop? RIP to the fire fighting volunteer.

[Vacuum]

34 minutes ago, Inepto Cracy said:

Strange picture to use, everything is burnt out except a flip-flop? RIP to the fire fighting volunteer.

Well spotted, how is this possible?

 

Edit: Perhaps an attempt by the photographer to win 'best photo of the year' competition?

Edited April 10, 2019 by Vacuum

[hotchilli]

Whatever the cause... condolences to his family.