Bystander Swept Away After Rescuing Victims from Canal Crash in Saraburi

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders

 

A courageous bystander was swept away, after jumping into a fast-flowing canal to rescue victims of a road crash in Saraburi. The incident occurred near the Chao Pho Muen Ram Bridge in Nong Khae District, where a saloon car and a pickup truck collided and plunged into the Raphiphat Canal.

 

Emergency services, including police from Nong Khae Police Station, rescue teams from Sawang Rattanatrai Thammasathan Saraburi, the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, and the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, were alerted to the accident at approximately 17:25 on 20 February.

 

Eyewitnesses reported that the crash involved a lime-green Mitsubishi Mirage and a silver Toyota Vigo pickup truck, both plunging into the canal and were swept away by the canal’s strong currents. As the vehicles floated downstream, a local man, identified as Mr. Natthaphon Samtia, 38, jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue the occupants.

 

According to Ms. Ice, the driver of the saloon car, she struggled to open the car door after it entered the water. Mr. Natthaphon reached her and helped pull her out before asking if she could swim. When she said no, he guided her to a clump of grass at the water’s edge to hold onto before diving back into the canal to assist the driver of the pickup truck.

 

However, due to the strong current and the sheer effort required for the rescue, Mr. Natthaphon appeared to become exhausted and was swept away, disappearing beneath the water.

 

Rescue workers arrived and managed to retrieve the pickup truck driver and transported him to Nong Khae Hospital for medical attention. However, the vehicle itself was lost to the water. Search teams, including divers and a flat-bottomed boat, were immediately deployed to locate Mr. Natthaphon, but efforts have been hampered by the powerful current.

 

Mr. Natthaphon’s mother, Mrs. Wanna 60, described her son as someone who had always been willing to help others, whether he knew them or not. She also revealed that he had not been in good health recently.

 

Mr. Phadungkiat, an administrator of the Nong Khae Mee Dee Facebook page, was among the first to arrive at the scene after hearing reports of the crash. He described how the Mitsubishi Mirage had been descending the bridge when it was struck by the Toyota Vigo, causing both vehicles to lose control and plunge into the canal.

 

Another rescuer, Mr. Anucha Ditbanjong, 23, described how he jumped into the canal with two others, carrying a rock to break the pickup truck’s window and free the driver. He managed to pull the pickup truck driver to safety.

Authorities will continue to search for Mr. Natthaphon, until the body is found.

 

-- 2025-02-21

 

[Tropicalevo]

Some heroic bystanders there.

Sad that one ended up giving his life for others.