Couple Drowns While Fighting Wildfire in Mae Hong Son

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

An incident has shocked a small community, after a couple drowned while attempting to protect their farmland from advancing wildfires.

 

Mr. Sriwan 67 and his wife Mrs. Sumalee 55, both residents of Baan Nai Soi village in Pang Mu sub-district, Mae Hong Son province, were found dead in a reservoir located roughly 200 metres from their home. The couple had gone out in the late afternoon to clear a firebreak in an effort to prevent a nearby forest blaze from spreading into their property.

 

 

According to police reports, Mrs. Sumalee was using a coconut broom to sweep dry leaves away from the edge of the reservoir when she slipped on the steep bank and fell into the deep water. Unable to swim, she began to drown. Mr. Sriwan immediately jumped in to save her but was also overcome by the water. Both lost their lives.

 

Local authorities were alerted when the couple failed to return home. A concerned nephew began a search and discovered two face masks floating on the surface of the reservoir along with Mr. Sriwan’s shoes at the water’s edge. Emergency services, including local police, medical personnel from Srisangwan Hospital, and a volunteer rescue foundation, were called to the scene. The couple’s bodies were later recovered from the water.

 

An initial examination by the attending physician found no signs of foul play or external injuries, and it was concluded the couple had been deceased for over four hours. Their family has not raised any suspicions regarding the cause of death, and the bodies were released to relatives for religious rites and cremation.

 

Wildfires continue to rage across Mae Hong Son province, with over 100 hotspots reported daily, placing immense strain on local communities and emergency services. The deceased couple’s deaths highlight the deadly risks residents face as they attempt to protect their homes and livelihoods from encroaching flames.

 

-- 2025-04-06