Accident Dramatic Rescue as Technician Collapses from Heatstroke on 30-Metre Telecom Tower in Lampang

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A dramatic rescue unfolded in Lampang on the afternoon of 15 July, after a 31-year-old maintenance technician collapsed from suspected heatstroke while working atop a 30-metre-high mobile phone signal tower.

 

At approximately 14:15, officers from Mueang Lampang Police Station received an emergency call reporting an unconscious man stranded near the top of a transmission tower belonging to a major telecommunications provider. The tower is located in Tha Duea village, Moo 12, in Phichai subdistrict, Mueang Lampang district.

 

Police immediately contacted the Lampang Rescue Association for urgent assistance.

 

Upon arrival, rescue personnel discovered the man unconscious and unresponsive near the upper section of the tower. According to a co-worker who had accompanied him, the technician had ascended the structure around midday to carry out routine maintenance. It was reported that he had consumed little water and had been working under intense heat, which likely led to dehydration and heatstroke. He began to exhibit signs of muscle spasms before losing consciousness, prompting his colleague to descend and call for help.

 

Rescue teams secured themselves with safety ropes and carefully climbed the tower to provide first aid. The technician eventually regained consciousness but appeared disoriented and unable to recall the incident. Due to the precarious location and the limited access of an ALP (aerial ladder platform) dispatched from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Region 10, a manual descent was deemed the safest rescue option.

 

With the man stablished and attached to a safety line, rescuers slowly guided him down the structure, ensuring his safety throughout the descent.

 

Medical personnel from Surasak Montri Military Hospital provided immediate care and later transferred him to a medical facility for further evaluation. Authorities confirmed that the cause was likely heatstroke, a serious condition exacerbated by prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures and insufficient hydration.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-07-16