Thai Fisherman Survives Bear Attack with Miraculous Recovery

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

 

In a harrowing tale of survival, a 60-year-old Thai fisherman has defied the odds after a brutal bear attack left him severely disfigured. The fisherman was attacked by an Asiatic black bear, which experts note can be aggressive when feeling threatened.

 

The attack, which occurred late last year, was so severe that it resulted in the loss of most of his face, including his nose, upper lip, and right eye. Yet, against all expectations, he has begun the journey to recovery thanks to a series of pioneering surgeries.

 

Immediately after the incident, he was rushed to the nearest hospital, where doctors performed emergency procedures to stabilise his condition.

 

Following this, he was transferred to a specialised medical centre to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery. These surgeries were recorded in a December medical journal, highlighting the groundbreaking work involved in his treatment.

 

Dr Akaranuchat, a leading surgeon at the centre, described the multi-stage surgical process undertaken to restore function and appearance. Initially, the patient's right eyeball was removed, a skin flap from the thigh was used to cover the facial wounds, and a feeding tube was inserted for nutrition.

 

 

 

Later, the team performed a complex nasal reconstruction with the use of a forehead skin flap and rib cartilage from a cadaver. Within two months, the patient had regained the ability to breathe through newly constructed nostrils, open and close his remaining eye, and eat normally.

 

Dr Akaranuchat praised the successful outcome, stating, "This case demonstrates incredible results achieved through a well-planned reconstructive approach."

 

The attack stands as a sobering reminder of the perils in Thailand's wilderness, where a routine activity can quickly become life-threatening. With the strong resilience shown by the fisherman and the medical expertise of his doctors, this story is not only a testament to human tenacity but also to the advancements in surgical techniques.

 

The total cost of reconstructive surgeries, which would amount to a significant figure, exemplifies the importance of access to advanced medical care in such critical situations.

 

The fisherman’s journey to recovery is ongoing, but his story already serves as an inspiring example of survival and medical achievement. It underscores the collaborative effort required in medicine and the human spirit to overcome adversity, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-24

 

 

[a3tsw]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

The total cost of reconstructive surgeries, which would amount to a significant figure, exemplifies the importance of access to advanced medical care in such critical situations

Is it just me ? , but no matter how many times I read this sentence , the less I can make any sense or meaning to it ... 😕

[Yagoda]

6 minutes ago, a3tsw said:

Is it just me ? , but no matter how many times I read this sentence , the less I can make any sense or meaning to it ... 😕

It means that the amount of work they had to do on this dude showed how important it is for advanced medical care to be easily accessible.

 

I have seen the results of Grizzly/Brown bear attacks and it isnt pretty. I do not know anyhting about the behavior of these bears here, but in the USA,  black bear attacks are usually predation.

[Artisi]

15 minutes ago, a3tsw said:

Is it just me ? , but no matter how many times I read this sentence , the less I can make any sense or meaning to it ... 😕

AI isn't foolproof. 

Plus none of it makes much sense. 

[expat_4_life]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

The total cost of reconstructive surgeries, which would amount to a significant figure, exemplifies the importance of access to advanced medical care in such critical situations.

 

Couldn't the story have had a fisherman getting bitten by a shark while nudging the reader to buy extensive medical insurance coverage? 

[Pouatchee]

gotts love the thais... this guy nearly loses his face/life but doesnt start a go fund me like most expats who get in trouble here. this is another reason why I love thailand so much... 

[KireB]

I read it twice, but where did this happen? Asking for a friend

[Briggsy]

Asiatic black bears are very rare now in Thailand and likely only to be encountered in the most protected national parks and wildlife sanctuaries like Huay Kha Khaeng, for example. In addition, black bears will choose to flee rather than attack.

 

It would be interesting if the article had stated where he was "fishing" and whether that was his regular occupation and fishing grounds.

[gomangosteen]

On 3/24/2025 at 1:27 PM, KireB said:

I read it twice, but where did this happen? Asking for a friend

i guessed it was this one, but the ages don't match, Nov 20 2024.

 

A 75 year old man narrowly escaped a life-threatening encounter with a giant Asiatic black bear while collecting fishing traps near Khao Yai National Park. The bear attack left him with severe facial injuries and a desperate struggle for survival.

source

 

 

[daveAustin]

On 3/24/2025 at 11:01 AM, Pouatchee said:

gotts love the thais... this guy nearly loses his face/life but doesnt start a go fund me like most expats who get in trouble here. this is another reason why I love thailand so much... 

 Well done for lowering the tone of this wonderful story. There’s always one.😔

 He received/receives a massive amount of donations; how do you know some of this didn’t come by way of something similar? Scammers aside, there is no difference with folk in ‘trouble’ in the West. It is just a more effective way. A war veteran back home needed help recently and without a similar thing to gofund, I couldn’t have helped. 

[Pouatchee]

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Well done for lowering the tone of this wonderful story. There’s always one.😔

 

i think you misunderstand my sincere appreciation of the thais' perseverance when faced with adversity. we often hear of thais trying to scam something one way or another... but this guy is dealing with it, in a really respectable way. funny how when some are sincere others see sneers

[watchcat]

On 3/24/2025 at 4:01 AM, Pouatchee said:

gotts love the thais... this guy nearly loses his face/life but doesnt start a go fund me like most expats who get in trouble here. this is another reason why I love thailand so much... 

 

I heard that it sn't legal in Thailand?  (GoFundMe)