Death at Durian Orchard as Two Children Drown in Artificial Pond

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

Two children tragically lost their lives after slipping and drowning in a manmade pond on January 26, at a durian orchard in Ban Huai Khanun, Moo 13, Ban Na Subdistrict, Mueang Chumphon District.

 

Emergency services, including rescue units from Saichon Radio Centre and medical teams from Chumphon Khet Udomsak Hospital and Thonburi Chumphon Hospital, rushed to the scene at approximately 16:15. The incident occurred near the Thung Mak intersection, around 800 metres off the main road.

 

The pond had been dug by the orchard's owner for agricultural purposes and lined with black plastic sheeting, creating a slippery surface. This made it impossible for the children to climb out once they fell in.

 

Rescuers found three children in distress. A 3 year old boy and a girl aged 6 were unresponsive. Despite CPR efforts, they were later pronounced dead at the hospital. An 11 year old girl, who had inhaled some water, was rushed to the hospital and is receiving treatment.

 

Mr Somchai, 64, the orchard owner, recounted the heartbreaking moment he arrived at the scene. "I've never seen children playing in the pond before. When I arrived, I saw three children and a black dog floating in the water. One of the children was raising their hands, pleading for help. I immediately went in to rescue them and the dog before calling for assistance."

 

The mother of the children was reportedly watering plants in the orchard when the incident occurred.

 

Authorities have reminded residents to exercise caution around artificial ponds, particularly those lined with slippery materials, and to keep children under close supervision near water sources.

 

 

-- 2025-01-27

 

 

[fredwiggy]

"Authorities have reminded residents to exercise caution around artificial ponds, particularly those lined with slippery materials, and to keep children under close supervision near water sources.".............Of course these are good ideas but it's the parent's responsibility to teach their children how to swim to avoid these scenarios. This happens every week here and there's a simple solution to reduce many if not all of them. It's not only children but adults too.  It's called care.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

"Authorities have reminded residents to exercise caution around artificial ponds, particularly those lined with slippery materials, and to keep children under close supervision near water sources.".............Of course these are good ideas but it's the parent's responsibility to teach their children how to swim to avoid these scenarios. This happens every week here and there's a simple solution to reduce many if not all of them. It's not only children but adults too.  It's called care.

Really? My father was a swimming teacher during the time I was growing up. I learned to swim at an age of 7 years. Can you please tell me how they should teach a 3 year old to swim? Six year old, might be possible in the western world, but here it will go much slower. What they need to do, is to supervise their children, especially at the age of 3 and not leave them in care of an 11 year old. They also need to put fences around places that might be dangerous for children.

[fredwiggy]

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Really? My father was a swimming teacher during the time I was growing up. I learned to swim at an age of 7 years. Can you please tell me how they should teach a 3 year old to swim? Six year old, might be possible in the western world, but here it will go much slower. What they need to do, is to supervise their children, especially at the age of 3 and not leave them in care of an 11 year old. They also need to put fences around places that might be dangerous for children.

I taught my children, along with grandma's help, as soon as they were able to walk, 2 years in all cases. A child can be taught before that, to lose their fear of water, which is one reason people drown, panicking. You have to know how to swim yourself, and most here in Thailand seem to not have that skill, to teach your children. You get in the water with them and support them while they're learning the skill. Teaching them how to swim eliminates most of the problems and accidents that would happen. Many here as adults fall in the water and panic, go under and drown. All my children back in the US learned to swim , and could swim, at less than 4.If you know how to teach a person how to swim, you know they can learn from a very young age, and it doesn't matter where on earth you learn, as long as your teacher knows what they're doing.

[Gottfrid]

40 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

All my children back in the US learned to swim , and could swim, at less than 4.

I am sorry. Not calling you a liar, but I have very hard to believe that. 

[edwinchester]

47 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Really? My father was a swimming teacher during the time I was growing up. I learned to swim at an age of 7 years. Can you please tell me how they should teach a 3 year old to swim? Six year old, might be possible in the western world, but here it will go much slower. What they need to do, is to supervise their children, especially at the age of 3 and not leave them in care of an 11 year old. They also need to put fences around places that might be dangerous for children.

First took my daughter for swimming lessons when she started kindergarten at 2 years old.

 

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, Gottfrid said:

I am sorry. Not calling you a liar, but I have very hard to believe that. 

Some people learn things earlier than others. Some never learn at all.

[edwinchester]

1 minute ago, Gottfrid said:

I am sorry. Not calling you a liar, but I have very hard to believe that. 

My own dad taught me to swim before I went to school. It's easy if you know how to teach kids to swim at a young age.

[fredwiggy]

Just now, edwinchester said:

My own dad taught me to swim before I went to school. It's easy if you know how to teach kids to swim at a young age.

As I mentioned, my children also had a grandma to help with things, including swimming with the kids while I was at work. Doesn't take long to have children lose their fear of water and learn the basics of keeping afloat. Panicking is what causes most drownings.

[MalcolmB]

7 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I am sorry. Not calling you a liar, but I have very hard to believe that. 

You have lived a sheltered life.

Of course 3 year olds can swim.

https://youtu.be/dbJYzS-RCpk?si=vAI1cLHiR-TlD25K

 

[edwinchester]

Just now, fredwiggy said:

As I mentioned, my children also had a grandma to help with things, including swimming with the kids while I was at work. Doesn't take long to have children lose their fear of water and learn the basics of keeping afloat. Panicking is what causes most drownings.

My daughter has had several very good swimming teachers here in Thailand since she started at two years. She's also lucky that her school has it's own pool where all the kids have a lesson at least once a week.....outside of cool season 555.

It's a shame Thailand doesn't have more large pools, maybe the high drowning stats for kids wouldn't be nearly so high.

[fredwiggy]

Just now, edwinchester said:

My daughter has had several very good swimming teachers here in Thailand since she started at two years. She's also lucky that her school has it's own pool where all the kids have a lesson at least once a week.....outside of cool season 555.

It's a shame Thailand doesn't have more large pools, maybe the high drowning stats for kids wouldn't be nearly so high.

Also having parents that could swim themselves.

[Gottfrid]

7 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

You have lived a sheltered life.

Of course 3 year olds can swim.

https://youtu.be/dbJYzS-RCpk?si=vAI1cLHiR-TlD25K

 

No, I have not. It´s not at all common that 3 year old children can swim. Also, this is Thailand, and that makes it a little bit harder as all of us who lived here for enough time knows.

[Gottfrid]

15 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

My own dad taught me to swim before I went to school. It's easy if you know how to teach kids to swim at a young age.

As I said in another reply. This is Thailand, and that will make it harder.

[fredwiggy]

Just now, Gottfrid said:

No, I have not. It´s not at all common that 3 year old children can swim. Also, this is Thailand, and that makes it a little bit harder as all of us who lived here for enough time knows.

The reason it's harder is because care for children pales by comparison to the west. I've never known anyone of my friends or family that didn't learn to swim as a toddler, and never a drowning. When I came here I heard, and hear about them weekly. both children and adults. People drown all over, and it's worse in other countries, but it still comes back to not being taught as young as possible. They put children on scooters here at 8 years old, they can teach them to swim.

[SHA 2 BKK]

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

As I said in another reply. This is Thailand, and that will make it harder.

In Australia most kids learn to swim before Primary school.   At Primary School swimming is usually part of the PE lessons.   Babies as young as 6 months start their first lessons.  Taught from a very young age not to panic.   All pools are fenced by law.  Australia has a very high number of household pools and is of course surrounded by sea.  The great Australian swim coach Laurie Lawrence has led a very successful campaign to have kids as young as 6 months taught swimming.  
 

That being said most of the Thais (and Chinese where is also lived) are scared of water and do panic when it’s gets deeper.  Very sad story above.  
 

“Baby swimming lessons generally start at around 6 months. Usually, lessons involve a small group of parents and babies who learn through fun activities and play. Parents and carers always need to be with babies in the water”.  From Pregnancy Australia 

[MalcolmB]

31 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, I have not. It´s not at all common that 3 year old children can swim. Also, this is Thailand, and that makes it a little bit harder as all of us who lived here for enough time knows.

Plenty of swimming coaches around to teach kids how to swim in Thailand.

 

Makes it harder for you maybe, not for all of us.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983225868505663/

 

 

[MalcolmB]

34 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

As I said in another reply. This is Thailand, and that will make it harder.

Pools everywhere, plenty of beaches, rivers and lakes.

Nice warm weather, it couldn’t be easier.

[GammaGlobulin]

Durian fruit is NOT worth a human life.

Durian is not worth anything, much....

 

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Plenty of swimming coaches around to teach kids how to swim in Thailand.

 

Makes it harder for you maybe, not for all of us.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983225868505663/

 

 

 

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Pools everywhere, plenty of beaches, rivers and lakes.

Nice warm weather, it couldn’t be easier.

 

 

I know you would get hooked again. You know, as well as I do, that most things is harder to get a result from as well as take longer time to do in Thailand. Can we end it with that?

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, SHA 2 BKK said:

Laurie Lawrence has led a very successful campaign to have kids as young as 6 months taught swimming.

Sure! What you are talking about here is what they call baby swim. Not at all to be connected to knowing how to swim. What they do here, is taking wonderful photos of babies under water as the respiratory system at that age allows for such activities.

[realfunster]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Authorities have reminded residents to exercise caution around artificial ponds, particularly those lined with slippery materials, and to keep children under close supervision near water sources.

 

Latter point - agreed.

 

First point - how about some public advice on how not to construct ponds that are effectively deathtraps e.g putting in a stepped banking?