77-Year-Old Bedridden Stroke Victim Dies in Fire

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

An incident unfolded on the morning of Januar19, when a 77-year-old man, bedridden due to partial paralysis, was killed in a fire caused by a short circuit at his family home in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district.

 

Police Lieutenant Kasidet Nimlaor, an investigator with the Lam Phak Chi police station, received the emergency call at 07:30. He arrived at the scene, accompanied by forensic specialists, medical examiners from the Police General Hospital, and rescue workers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.

 

The incident occurred in a two-storey concrete house in the Lam Toiting subdistrict. The deceased, identified as Mr. Jamlong, was found lying on his back in a severely burned state. Only the area from his neck upwards remained untouched by the fire. Mr. Jamlong, who had been suffering from partial paralysis, was unable to move independently.

 

Investigators found evidence of fire damage near a electrical socket, which had ignited and spread to a fan placed next to Mr. Jamlong’s bed. The flames melted the fan and engulfed the immediate area, eventually burning the victim.

 

According to Mr. Kittisak, the 39-year-old grandson of the deceased, eight family members, including Mr. Jamlong, lived in the house. At the time of the incident, all were still asleep. Mr. Kittisak, who had come downstairs early to use the bathroom, was the first to notice the fire.

 

“I saw flames consuming my grandfather’s bed,” Mr. Kittisak said. “I shouted for everyone to cut the power and helped put out the fire with water. Once the flames were extinguished, we called the authorities.”

 

Mr. Kittisak believes the fire originated from the electrical plug, which was connected to the fan used to keep his grandfather cool. As Mr. Jamlong was unable to move or call for help, the fire quickly spread, leaving him with no means of escape.

 

-- 2025-01-20