Songkran Drowning: 36-Year-Old Man Dies While Cooling Off in Pond

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

A 36-year-old man drowned in front of his friends while celebrating the Songkran holiday, after entering a pond to cool off from the heat in Sri Maha Phot district, Prachinburi province.

 

At approximately 13:30 on 15 April, police at Sri Maha Phot Station were alerted by the 191 emergency centre to a drowning at a company’s freshwater pond in Moo 4, Tha Tum sub-district. Investigators, led by Police Lieutenant Kittisak Sinthorn, and including the district police chief, medical personnel from Sri Maha Phot Hospital, local officials, and rescue teams from Sawang Bamphen Thammasathan Foundation and Ruamkatanyu Foundation, quickly arrived at the scene.

 

The body of the deceased, identified as Mr Aung Ko Oo, a 36-year-old Myanmar national, was found lying on the bank of the pond. The pond is estimated to cover around five rai and is between 3 to 5 metres deep. An initial inspection revealed no signs of physical assault or injuries on the body.

 

Friends of the deceased told authorities that the group had taken advantage of the Songkran holiday to cool off in the water. While swimming, Mr Aung Ko Oo appeared to struggle and eventually disappeared beneath the surface. His friends rushed to pull him out but, tragically, he had already stopped breathing.

 

Mr Somkid Saengsuk, subdistrict assistant chief of Tha Tum, reported that three Myanmar workers had entered the pond. He believes the victim may have suffered a cramp while swimming.

 

Witnesses said that in a panic after recovering the body, the surviving friends fled the scene, fearing repercussions, but were later brought in for questioning by police.

 

Authorities have sent the body for a full autopsy at Sri Maha Phot Hospital to confirm the cause of death. 
 

-- 2025-04-16