Shrimp Farm Incident Nearly Costs Worker a Leg

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

A 40-year-old shrimp farm worker in Chachoengsao has been rushed to hospital with a severe leg injury after her trousers became entangled in the rotating shaft of a paddlewheel aerator, twisting her leg to near amputation.

The accident occurred on 9 August at a shrimp pond in Moo 3, Bang Phra subdistrict, Mueang district. Rescue teams from Chachoengsao were alerted by Mr Wisut Wiratchakul, 54, after his relative, Ms Chotika Sae Koo, became trapped in the aerator while feeding shrimp.

Upon arrival, rescuers found Ms Chotika lying on her back beside the machine, wearing long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and rubber boots. Her right lower leg had been twisted around by the device and was lodged in the universal joint, the connecting part between the motor and the paddlewheel blades. She was in severe pain, bleeding heavily and semi-conscious.

Rescue workers had to cut away her boots and trousers to assess the wound, stop the excessive bleeding and splint the leg before carefully freeing her, using rescue tools and with Mr Wisut, the pond’s owner, helping by unbolting the joint from the shaft, thus allowing them to move Ms Chotika onto an ambulance. She was placed on oxygen and transported urgently to Phutthasothon Hospital.

Mr Wisut explained that the victim routinely crossed the aerator shaft while working. On this occasion, she was wearing loose trousers, which likely caught the rotating blades, which snagged the fabric and pulled her down.

He added that the incident could have been fatal if the aerator had been powered by a tractor engine rather than electricity. In this case, the excessive strain caused the belt to slip off, stopping the machine before further damage was done.

Following the incident, Mr Wisut said he would cover the aerator’s joint with a protective cover to prevent similar incidents in the future.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-08-10