Man 64, Chokes to Death on Pork Intestine Despite Rescue Efforts

Picture from responders.

A 64-year-old man choked to death while eating pork intestine at his home in Wichian Buri district, Phetchabun province, on 13 February.

Emergency services from Wichian Buri Hospital’s 1669 radio dispatch centre received a distress call reporting the incident at a residence in Bo Rang subdistrict. Rescue teams from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation rushed to the scene but were unable to save the man.

The deceased, identified as Somsak, was found lying on the ground wearing only a sarong, with a bowl of pork intestine in soup, beside him. Officers from Wichian Buri Police Station and medical examiners from the hospital arrived to conduct an initial investigation.

Khamron, a 43-year-old neighbour who witnessed the event, described how Somsak began choking and attempted to spit out the food but failed. Realising the seriousness of the situation, Khamron alerted the victim’s relatives, who tried various life-saving measures, including abdominal thrusts and trying to manually clear the airway with their fingers. However, the man’s condition deteriorated rapidly, with him turning blue before succumbing.

Responders on arrival attempted CPR, but were unable to clear the airway, with the obstruction deeply lodged and blocking all rescue efforts.

Authorities and medical staff were satisfied with the cause of the death from examination at the scene and subsequently released the body to the family for religious funeral rites.

-- 2025-02-14