Tragic death of Thai police recruit prompts investigation into training methods

[webfact]

 

A tragic incident occurred during a police training exercise, leading to the death of a 26 year old recruit. The incident took place at Than Muk Camp in Sadao district, Songkhla province.

 

After the recruit, Pakorn, also known as Byte, collapsed during a 10-kilometre run on Monday, October 9 his instructor ordered him to complete the run, leading to his death the following morning. The instructor, identified as Lieutenant Panyavuthi, is now under investigation.

 

Pakorn joined the Border Patrol Police (BPP) and began his training at the Than Muk Camp, or Special Training Unit 9, on October 1. His training was cut short when he collapsed after completing 6 kilometres of a 10-kilometre run, reported Sanook. Despite his evident physical distress, his instructor, Lieutenant Panyavuthi, ordered him to complete the run. The recruit’s death occurred the morning after, on October 10.

The instructor in question, Lieutenant Panyavuthi, was a recent graduate of the training course himself and was supervising a group of BPP students on their 10-kilometre run. His actions are now under scrutiny following the tragic incident.

 

by Samantha Rose

Photo courtesy of ev (Unsplash).

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-13

 

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[Artisi]

Cue, all kockers of anything Thai, front and centre at the double. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

His training was cut short when he collapsed after completing 6 kilometres of a 10-kilometre run, reported Sanook. Despite his evident physical distress, his instructor, Lieutenant Panyavuthi, ordered him to complete the run. The recruit’s death occurred the morning after, on October 10.

Manslaughter.

[herfiehandbag]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The instructor in question, Lieutenant Panyavuthi, was a recent graduate of the training course himself

So an instructor of great experience then!

 

Don't they have any sort of cadre to prepare people to be instructors, let alone any requirement of sustained experience "in the field" before becoming one?

 

Qualified Physical Training Instructor present?

 

Medics present?

Edited October 13, 2023 by herfiehandbag

[2long]

If this guy was overweight or just lazy, and the instructor had said 'ok, no need for you to run. You can skip this training exercise.' people would complain that the training is insufficient.

 

We don't know for sure how strong the command was to continue and complete the run.

 

Personal trainers say stuff like 'come on, one more set' to encourage people to try harder.

 

Without all the FACTS this case is impossible to comment on with any authority.

 

RIP that young man.

[Sigmund]

A tproper horough and efficient medical exam should be conducted before admitting those poor young lads into the ruthless Academy.

 

Proper screening on the instructors could also be useful. Mainly to avoid all the mental retards in the job who could take out their issues on their recruits.

 

Rip to the poor chap.

[Sigmund]

1 hour ago, herfiehandbag said:

So an instructor of great experience then!

 

Don't they have any sort of cadre to prepare people to be instructors, let alone any requirement of sustained experience "in the field" before becoming one?

 

Qualified Physical Training Instructor present?

 

Medics present?

Maybe the instructor positions in the Acadamey are considered the famous "inactive posts" ?

[bignok]

Lack of electrolytes. 10km walk isnt hard. Do they have to run?

[Ben Zioner]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Manslaughter.

Maybe,  but we would have to  look at the doctor who signed the victim's medical. Hard to believe that a "normal" 26 years old recruit could not complete a 10k run.

[edwinchester]

54 minutes ago, bignok said:

Lack of electrolytes. 10km walk isnt hard. Do they have to run?

Second paragraph, first sentence, '10 kilometer run'.

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Second paragraph, first sentence, '10 kilometer run'.

Time limit?

[bignok]

When I was 10yo I was a good runner at 1500m. I did a 10km and bolted the first 5km then hit the wall and was walking the last 4km. Took me 52 minutes. Rather slow in the end.

 

Mind you there was low humidity.

[edwinchester]

1 minute ago, bignok said:

Time limit?

These tasks usually have a time limit although no idea what the one used for this is.

When I worked for UK Police sometimes saw the recruits taking part in their fitness test which was only a 15 minute shuttle run.

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

These tasks usually have a time limit although no idea what the one used for this is.

When I worked for UK Police sometimes saw the recruits taking part in their fitness test which was only a 15 minute shuttle run.

I think western ones made it easy so women  lotcan do it. Lot more fat cops now.

[Grusa]

Have they not seen "A Few Good Men"?

[brianthainess]

3 hours ago, bignok said:

Lack of electrolytes. 10km walk isnt hard. Do they have to run?

Still not learnt to read then. 

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Second paragraph, first sentence, '10 kilometer run'.

Oh come on read 2 paragraphs what him ?

[herfiehandbag]

Of course what we don't know is what sort of a run it was. There is a whole world of difference between an individual 10km road run, in training shoes and PT kit, and what we used to call "endurance running" a 6 miler (10km) uphill and down dale, on rough tracks, in boots, combat kit, wearing your helmet and carrying 30kg in your webbing and a weapon. In my time at the idiot factory (1970s) we built up to the 10 miler over two terms, with PT to train and prepare us for it. Excellent practice for running away from the Russians!

 

But seriously, these sorts of exercises need to be done with qualified PTIs in charge and medics to hand. Otherwise the temptation always rises in some people to "beast" the recruit, especially one who is struggling. "Beasting" can push someone beyond their limits, and that can result in this sort of incident. Add in an inadequate level of fitness, heat and humidity and you can be in real trouble.

 

The officer is in charge yes, but advised by his PTIs and medics. His experience and enthusiasm should be tempered by that advice.