Boy Rescued After Becoming Trapped in Playground Ride in Buriram

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

A young schoolboy was rescued after becoming trapped in a playground ride at a primary school in Prakhon Chai district, Buriram province, during the school’s lunchtime break.

The incident occurred on 21 July when Mongkol, a Prathom 2 pupil, was playing with friends in the school playground and attempted to crawl through a seating section of a “Viking” ride, a pirate ship-style swing. While smaller classmates managed to pass through, Mongkol became wedged in the metal frame and was unable to free himself.

Teachers and classmates quickly raised the alarm and rescue personnel from the Ban Song Muang Rescue Unit responded immediately. Arriving with cutting tools and emergency equipment, rescuers initially attempted to use a grinder to cut through the metal, but it proved too thick and durable. The team then carefully employed hydraulic spreaders and cutters to remove the structure and free the boy.

The rescue took approximately 20 minutes. To the relief of onlooking students and teachers, Mongkol was safely extracted from the structure without any injuries or even a scratch. The scene was met with a round of applause and cheers from pupils who had gathered to watch the rescue operation unfold.

Mr. Thanaphat Srirak, a rescue volunteer at the scene, explained that the boy had become stuck beneath a metal beam at the base of the ride’s seat section. “He was pinned at the abdomen and couldn’t move. We proceeded carefully with the spreaders, then the cutters, to avoid any harm and thankfully, the child came out safe and sound.”

Mrs. Kanyanat Yunprakhon, the school’s head of academic affairs, confirmed that the incident happened during a regular lunchtime break. “Mongkol was simply playing with friends as children do. Some of them were able to pass through the narrow gap in the Viking ride, but his larger frame caused him to become stuck,” she explained. “Thankfully, our teachers and janitor acted quickly and contacted rescue services immediately.”

She added that the school had always prioritised student safety, regularly conducting emergency drills and safety briefings. However, she acknowledged that accidents can happen and described this as a reminder for all schools and families to remain vigilant.

In the wake of the incident, the school’s director has ordered the Viking ride to be dismantled and removed from the playground to prevent similar occurrences in future.

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-07-23