Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A man who withdrew the government hand out, chose to celebrate by getting drunk and fell into a canal. He was rescued after a search, with relatives, who had prepared for the worst left stunned by his survival.

 

At around 20:30 on September 26, Udon Thani city police and rescue teams received a report of a man falling into an irrigation canal in the Suntorn Satchabun area in Ban Thon, Ban Lueam Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province. The man had not been found when the authorities arrived at the scene.

 

 

Upon arrival, officials discovered a white-and-black Honda Wave motorcycle, license plate from Nong Bua Lamphu, parked by the canal. They also found the missing man’s shirt, a water bottle, and half a bottle of liquor near the canal bank. Soon after, Mr. Wittawat, 45, a municipal garbage collector from Udon Thani, approached the officers and identified the missing man as his 49-year-old brother, Mr. Thongrit, also known as "Pee Kiew," from Kud Din Ji village in Nong Bua Lamphu Province.

 

Mr. Wittawat explained that his brother had called earlier, saying he was coming to Udon Thani to look for work. After withdrawing 5,000 baht of the 10,000 baht he had, Mr. Thongrit set off on his motorcycle.

 

CCTV footage from the area showed Mr. Thongrit sitting beside the canal next to his motorcycle before stumbling and falling into the water, apparently while drunk and trying to relieve himself. He then disappeared into the canal, which led officials to believe he had been swept away by the current.

 

Divers began searching the canal, but Mr. Thongrit's body was not found, leading to fears that he had drowned. For over an hour, villagers, divers, and officials searched the canal, but their efforts seemed in vain. Then, miraculously, a local resident reported seeing Mr. Thongrit walking out of the canal about 2 kilometres from the accident site, wearing only his underwear.
 

The searchers rushed to help him and found that Mr. Thongrit appeared confused by the crowd of villagers and rescuers, exclaiming, “What’s everyone doing here? I’m not dead. I’m just embarrassed and cold.” The rescuers quickly covered him with a towel.

 

Mr. Thongrit explained that after withdrawing his money, he had bought a bottle of liquor to celebrate with the locals. After drinking, he tried to relieve himself near the canal but accidentally fell in, his intoxication causing him to be swept away by the current. Eventually regaining full consciousness, he managed to climb out of the canal on his own.

 

When asked how he managed to survive, Mr. Thongrit replied that he had held tightly to 300 baht in cash while thinking of his late father. He expressed joy at his survival, smiling as his younger brother embraced him. Relatives, His brother jokingly suggested that Mr. Thongrit should quit drinking to avoid future disasters.

 

-- 2024-09-27

 

 

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

23 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr. Thongrit explained that after withdrawing his money, he had bought a bottle of liquor to celebrate with the locals. After drinking, he tried to relieve himself near the canal but accidentally fell in, his intoxication causing him to be swept away by the current. Eventually regaining consciousness, he managed to climb out of the canal on his own.

 

When asked how he managed to survive, Mr. Thongrit replied that he had held tightly to 300 baht in cash while thinking of his late father. He expressed joy at his survival, smiling as his younger brother embraced him. Relatives, His brother jokingly suggested that Mr. Thongrit should quit drinking to avoid future disasters.

Totally mad story. Yo regain consciousness, you must first be unconscious. In that stage it´s an amazing art to keep holding his 300 baht and at the same time think about his late father. More amazing is that an unconscious person not drown. His brother is right, he should stop drinking. Police should also fine the guy for driving drunk.

57 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

 

of course it will ....  then they get drunk and start arguing,  then the guns come  out and some will no doubt get shot.   What a society this place breeds.  They are still wild cavemen, uneducated and can't think.  

1 hour ago, Mason45 said:

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

Those industries will certainly receive a big share of the handouts. No surprise at all.

Thank you, Thaksin, for channeling taxpayers' money into the pockets of your lackeys. 

38 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

of course it will ....  then they get drunk and start arguing,  then the guns come  out and some will no doubt get shot.   What a society this place breeds.  They are still wild cavemen, uneducated and can't think.  

From what I have seen Thais don’t argue much compared to us Brits. They are much calmer and more likely to  start dancing than start fighting. Their pubs seem calmer, table service by attractive females.
 

I witnessed countless fights at pub closing time in England, it is almost expected, quite often screeching females.

 

i think you are carrying on a bit to be honest or don’t get out much and base your narrative on what read rather than what you experience.
 

 

31 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

From what I have seen Thais don’t argue much compared to us Brits. They are much calmer and more likely to  start dancing than start fighting. Their pubs seem calmer, table service by attractive females.
 

I witnessed countless fights at pub closing time in England, it is almost expected, quite often screeching females.

 

i think you are carrying on a bit to be honest or don’t get out much and base your narrative on what read rather than what you experience.
 

 

 

hmm ... I don't think I wanna experience being at a thai gathering and an argument break out,  the risk is too high for me.   We know they shoot each other, it's been on the news dozens of times.   I'm not saying fights don't happen in UK pubs, but we aren't talking about that,  Im talking about Thai's get drunk, argue, then shoot each other ... sometimes. 

2 hours ago, Mason45 said:

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

I'm just waiting for a report of a big Lottery winner, who had a vision to put the whole THB10,000 on certain numbers. That will really start a craze.

2 hours ago, Mason45 said:

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

The others will just waste it

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

When asked how he managed to survive, Mr. Thongrit replied that he had held tightly to 300 baht in cash

So he is down to his last 300 baht already?   At least he has kept a bit back for a rainy day 

48 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

hmm ... I don't think I wanna experience being at a thai gathering and an argument break out,  the risk is too high for me.   We know they shoot each other, it's been on the news dozens of times.   I'm not saying fights don't happen in UK pubs, but we aren't talking about that,  Im talking about Thai's get drunk, argue, then shoot each other ... sometimes. 

Yes. The UK is much more civilised.

They only use knives and bottles there..... sometimes.

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

 

hmm ... I don't think I wanna experience being at a thai gathering and an argument break out,  the risk is too high for me.   We know they shoot each other, it's been on the news dozens of times.   I'm not saying fights don't happen in UK pubs, but we aren't talking about that,  Im talking about Thai's get drunk, argue, then shoot each other ... sometimes. 

I've been to many Thai gatherings at Korat as my wife has 6 brothers, They are all strictly lao khaow drinkers. They can get very boisterous and the occasional bust up does occur and of course it's always Thai rules it's the mob versus one guy. I must say in the 24 years I've been going up north I've never seen a weapon produced. As far as my safety is concerned I'm always treated with total respect from my in laws and their friends.

 Around 20 years ago I was in Yasothon and I witnessed the wildest brawl I've ever seen, it was a 2 day festival but I don't remember it's name. After only 2 hours  there were around 100 guys brawling. They had lumps of wood, pieces of concrete, knives, broken bottles, even a sabre sword was produced. After about one hour the organizers called a halt for the day. Day 2 started off peaceful then a few  hours later the brawl from the previous day flared up again. I told my friend we have to get out of here. As we were going back to the car park I seen one guy ride his motor bike flat out into the mob. The bike came to a dead halt and the mob proceeded to give the bike rider a real going over. I'm pretty sure given the severity of the beating he would've dead before an ambulance arrived. On both days of the festival there were at least 12-14 BIB's in the whisky tent and they more interested in the free booze than creating law and order.

1 hour ago, Mason45 said:

 Around 20 years ago I was in Yasothon and I witnessed the wildest brawl I've ever seen, it was a 2 day festival but I don't remember it's name. After only 2 hours  there were around 100 guys brawling. They had lumps of wood, pieces of concrete, knives, broken bottles, even a sabre sword was produced. After about one hour the organizers called a halt for the day. Day 2 started off peaceful then a few  hours later the brawl from the previous day flared up again. I told my friend we have to get out of here. As we were going back to the car park I seen one guy ride his motor bike flat out into the mob. The bike came to a dead halt and the mob proceeded to give the bike rider a real going over. I'm pretty sure given the severity of the beating he would've dead before an ambulance arrived. On both days of the festival there were at least 12-14 BIB's in the whisky tent and they more interested in the free booze than creating law and order.

At the party for my Thai wedding some 20+ years ago, up in deepest Issan, we decided to call it a night when the shooting started....

2 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

So he is down to his last 300 baht already?   At least he has kept a bit back for a rainy day 

No he only withdrew 5K. Him Vely sensible responsible man 

 

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

 

Mr. Wittawat explained that his brother had called earlier, saying he was coming to Udon Thani to look for work. After withdrawing 5,000 baht of the 10,000 baht he had, Mr. Thongrit set off on his motor

 

 

-- 2024-09-27

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Mason45 said:

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

Could also buy a gun.

This video courtesy of CH3 shows part of the rescue operation and the CCTV which captured him falling in.

 

 

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

 

of course it will ....  then they get drunk and start arguing,  then the guns come  out and some will no doubt get shot.   What a society this place breeds.  They are still wild cavemen, uneducated and can't think.  

And it´s all the governments fault, with stupid handout ideas! I say we put the government on trial for murder. 😉 

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

 

hmm ... I don't think I wanna experience being at a thai gathering and an argument break out,  the risk is too high for me.   We know they shoot each other, it's been on the news dozens of times.   I'm not saying fights don't happen in UK pubs, but we aren't talking about that,  Im talking about Thai's get drunk, argue, then shoot each other ... sometimes. 

 

I rarely agree with Steven, but in this, he's right. I've been at or near places where this has happened more than once and have also heard many fairly reliable tales of this sort of thing.

 In my experience it generally kicks off around midnight and onwards. I always leave before then to avoid it, if I go out drinking anywhere here...

6 hours ago, Mason45 said:

For many of the 10,000 baht recipients their hand outs will be spent on booze, drugs or gambling.

So what?  It does not matter, the whole idea of the handout was for it to be spent!

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Police should also fine the guy for driving drunk.

Did the police witness his being drunk while riding his bike?  In this case, if they didn't, they cannot prosecute him. Perhaps he started drinking when he arrived at the canal?

4 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

From what I have seen Thais don’t argue much compared to us Brits. They are much calmer and more likely to  start dancing than start fighting. Their pubs seem calmer, table service by attractive females.
 

I witnessed countless fights at pub closing time in England, it is almost expected, quite often screeching females.

 

i think you are carrying on a bit to be honest or don’t get out much and base your narrative on what read rather than what you experience.
 

 

Hear, hear!

Guess they cancelled the idea you can only spend it on certain things 😂🍻

😆Thai style----

5 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

From what I have seen Thais don’t argue much compared to us Brits. They are much calmer and more likely to  start dancing than start fighting. Their pubs seem calmer, table service by attractive females.
 

I witnessed countless fights at pub closing time in England, it is almost expected, quite often screeching females.

 

i think you are carrying on a bit to be honest or don’t get out much and base your narrative on what read rather than what you experience.
 

 

You are correct.. If in the UK.. But here in Thailand.. If a Thai fights, someone is severely injured or dead. If a Thai fights, they usually do it in droves. Here in Thailand, you read about a Thai fighting or killing 2-3 times a week. Compared to foreigners in brawls in Thailand maybe 1 a month or 2. Mind you, this is all only what has been reported. There are many other cases of Thais fighting more that go unreported or compensated before the police arrive. Whereas all the brawls with foreigners end up on headline news and jail or huge fines and deportation. 

Out o the news. There may be more arguments that never end up in a fight between foreigners. But say something a Thai does not like and he will call his friends to come attack you as a team. 

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr. Thongrit explained that after withdrawing his money, he had bought a bottle of liquor to celebrate with the locals.

 

How many locals were celebrating with him beside the canal?

8 minutes ago, zyphodb said:

 

I rarely agree with Steven, but in this, he's right. I've been at or near places where this has happened more than once and have also heard many fairly reliable tales of this sort of thing.

 In my experience it generally kicks off around midnight and onwards. I always leave before then to avoid it, if I go out drinking anywhere here...

          It happens everywhere here, I live in the middle of nowhere  there used to be an annual inter village boat race on the local reservoir.  The actual boat racing started with "heats"  at around 9 am with the final scheduled for around 4 pm.  It rarely reached that stage,    By around lunchtime the "hardmen" from the surrounding villages started arriving,   barely educated feral teenage savages, methed up to the eyeballs,  covered in tattoos, and openly  armed with machetes some even had guns.  They all have relatively  new motorcycles and smartphones  yet have  never done a days work in their  worthless lives.

           Inevitably it would all kick off, while the police continued drinking in the "refreshment tent" waiting patiently for them to tire themselves out , Eventually the police would round up the survivors (there were several deaths over the years) and  they and their uninsured,  untaxed  motorbikes were taken to the police station in the back of police pickups.   

          There they await their mothers ( never their fathers)  to arrive pay to off the police and escort their pathetic offspring  back to the hovel they live in, all before nightfall

          The local admin eventually had enough, and  what should have been an enjoyable family event was cancelled permanently around 10 years ago  just like the local morlam / kantreum music concerts that are becoming increasingly rare for the same reason.  Loi Krathong and other religious festivals are also commonly targeted,  And the renowned Surin elephant festival is always guaranteed to end in a near riot, generally on the last day during the appearance of a well known rock band, successfully spoiling things for everybody else. 

            Anybody who thinks that young , or not so yong  Thai males  do not habitually resort to extreme violence regularly is delusional 

35 minutes ago, ronster said:

Guess they cancelled the idea you can only spend it on certain things 😂🍻

like that was ever going to work in practice 

20 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

You are correct.. If in the UK.. But here in Thailand.. If a Thai fights, someone is severely injured or dead. If a Thai fights, they usually do it in droves. Here in Thailand, you read about a Thai fighting or killing 2-3 times a week. Compared to foreigners in brawls in Thailand maybe 1 a month or 2. Mind you, this is all only what has been reported. There are many other cases of Thais fighting more that go unreported or compensated before the police arrive. Whereas all the brawls with foreigners end up on headline news and jail or huge fines and deportation. 

Out o the news. There may be more arguments that never end up in a fight between foreigners. But say something a Thai does not like and he will call his friends to come attack you as a team. 

Unlike in the west , here there is absolutely no shame in fighting 5  or more onto one. it is considered to be "using ones initiative"   There is also no shame attached to kicking an already unconscious person full in the face  The punishments they may face are generally inversely proportionate to the rank of any police or other officials that happen to be members of their family,  They are never disciplined or punished by their parents  or rather their grandmothers who often work their fingers to the bone to keep their wonderboys in the style to which they feel entitled 

This digital wallet example will not be the case infrequently. Money is wasted, drunk or gambled away.