Picture courtesy of Amarin 

 

A heartbreaking incident unfolded on the morning of 3 June, in the Sukhumvit 93 area of Bangkok, where a five-year-old girl was discovered clinging to the lifeless body of her father, who had reportedly died at least six hours earlier. The child, frail and severely malnourished, appears to had been without food for several days. Rescue workers and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) have stepped in to provide urgent assistance.

 

Rescue volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were alerted around 10:00 and rushed to the scene in Soi Pheung Mee 30. Mr Tharathon Kaetloi, 36, one of the first responders, recounted the distressing moment he entered the home after being called by concerned neighbours.

 

“I was at home when a neighbour came to tell me something was wrong with the man who lived down the soi,” Mr Tharathon told reporters. “When we arrived, we found the young girl lying next to her father, who showed no signs of life. We called out several times, but there was no response. When we checked his body, it was already cold. We estimated he had been dead for at least six or seven hours.”

 

The little girl was reportedly too weak to move, having not eaten or drunk anything for several days. “When we gave her a bottle of water, she drank it so quickly, we could see how dehydrated she was. It was absolutely heartbreaking,” Mr Tharathon added.

 

Medical examiners later confirmed the father had died of an illness and would probably been unconscious for sometime before his death. His body was taken for religious rites at Wat Ratsatthatham temple in Bang Chak, Phra Khanong District. The rescue team assisted with funeral arrangements.

 

Relatives of the deceased, including his aunt and cousin, said the father had worked odd jobs and scavenged for recyclable materials to support his daughter. “He always took care of her, especially after her mother left. We tried to help as much as we could, but times are hard, and we don’t have a steady income,” the aunt said tearfully.

 

“When he fell ill, we tried to support him and the girl, but my daughter works and I’m elderly. The little one was very attached to her father. Even when he passed away, she continued to lie next to him,” she added.

 

The MSDHS has since taken the child into protective care. Her family hopes to be reunited with her once their financial situation stabilises. “We haven’t abandoned her. We’re just struggling right now. When we have the means, we’ll bring her home,” said the aunt.

 

This case has drawn public attention to the plight of vulnerable children living in poverty and isolation, with many calling for greater support systems to prevent such heartbreaking scenarios in the future.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-06-04

 

 

 

Saddest story! Seems like the Dad did his best to look & take care of her & she seemed to love her Dad

Hope she gets the proper help & care she needs & the family step up when able to 😌

These are situations wherever gofundmeas should be set up