Photo via Facebook/ แฟร้งค์' เฟิร์ต

 

A poignant encounter under Bangkok's Rama VIII Bridge has sparked concern after a Thai man, known by his Facebook account แฟร้งค์’ เฟิร์ต, shared footage of a young boy smoking and wandering unsupervised. Captured and posted on May 26, the video aimed to draw attention from government agencies to intervene and better the child's circumstances.

 

In the video, the boy, estimated to be around four or five years old, is seen holding a cigarette and exhaling smoke, seemingly imitating adult behaviours he's observed. The man behind the camera gently intervenes, urging the child to discard the cigarette, promising to speak with his father. The video then reveals the boy's parents living in makeshift conditions under the bridge, indicating that the family is homeless.

 

The clip quickly captured the attention of Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet, a social media influencer, who mobilised his team to locate the family. Through his followers' assistance, Gun's team found the boy's parents and learned more about their situation. The mother explained that a group of teenagers might have handed the cigarette to her son.

 

She elaborated on the family's plight, revealing her husband's financial struggles and health issues, which prevented him from working. As the sole income earner, she found it difficult to cover basic expenses, forcing the family to seek refuge under the bridge after missing rent payments. The family subsisted on charitable offerings and selling fish caught from the river.

 

 

Despite the challenges, the mother expressed intentions to eventually enrol the boy in school. Meanwhile, their other two children live with relatives in another province due to the family's dire circumstances.

 

Following the video's exposure, authorities stepped in, relocating the boy temporarily to a shelter overseen by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. There, he will stay until his parents can provide a more stable and secure home environment.

 

This incident has cast light on the vulnerability of families facing financial distress in urban settings and underscores the importance of community vigilance and support. It highlights the critical role of social media in raising awareness and prompting swift intervention to protect and assist those most in need.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-27

 

 

He looks happy...

This incident has cast light on the vulnerability of families facing financial distress in urban settings

 

The underage can afford a smoke while the family is struggling to make their ends meet.

Nowadays, the least expensive tobacco packet costs B50(from google search).

Price hiked at least 250%(from 2005).

 

Take the boy and leave the parents under the bridge??  This is the Thai solution? 

Separate the kid from his mother and father? Why not put them both into some temp housing in the poor section of the city? 

Ooh wait! the government needs that money to get more tourism and other things rather than be concerned keeping the family together and off the streets. 

 

At least in the US. They have shelters for mothers with kids that they can go to together and even with the father also. They will help you find a better paying job and then offer you a home to rent very cheaply or that you can buy paying very cheap mortgage. 

 

I know this is a still a 3rd world country by the way they treat their own people. Technology and Laws do not change their tier level when they can not even help a family in distress with children. 

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A poignant encounter under Bangkok's Rama VIII Bridge has sparked concern after a Thai man, known by his Facebook account แฟร้งค์’ เฟิร์ต, shared footage of a young boy smoking and wandering unsupervised. Captured and posted on May 26, the video aimed to draw attention from government agencies to intervene and better the child's circumstances

At least he's respecting the law... E-cigs are banned

After a hectic day evading school, he just needed to chill out with a relaxing puff of low-grade tobacco 

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

 

 

I know this is a still a 3rd world country by the way they treat their own people. Technology and Laws do not change their tier level when they can not even help a family in distress with children.

 

Thailand is not a 3rd world country, (YES, by the way they treat their own people),  It is officially a Emerging Country, and so it should create better living conditions, where it is necessary.  I fully agree with your comment.

 

 

1 hour ago, BerndD said:

 

Thailand is not a 3rd world country, (YES, by the way they treat their own people),  It is officially a Emerging Country, and so it should create better living conditions, where it is necessary.  I fully agree with your comment.

 

 

Emerging from what? In many cases as seen across the country it is still Neanderthal, say the wrong thing or look the wrong way and get beaten to death. 

For shure it must be a brit 😂

Could be a small midget?

2 hours ago, Marco100 said:

For shure it must be a brit 😂

I'm not sure if that was an attempt at humour? If so, must try harder. If not, then you are a <deleted>. 

1 hour ago, Keeps said:

I'm not sure if that was an attempt at humour? If so, must try harder. If not, then you are a <deleted>. 

Indeed, and the pr!ck can't even spell properly. 

13 hours ago, BerndD said:

 

Thailand is not a 3rd world country, (YES, by the way they treat their own people),  It is officially a Emerging Country, and so it should create better living conditions, where it is necessary.  I fully agree with your comment.

 

 

The term "Third World" is outdated and is typically replaced with "emerging economies" or "developing countries."

 

softens the blow for the snowflakes

Isn't this exactly what the government wanted with their crackdown against e-cigarettes? Now kids can smoke the healthy organic tobacco instead and keep bringing tax revenue for the goverment and profits for the tobacco monopoly.