Pictures courtesy of TMN

 

A migrant worker suffered severe hand injuries after his wrist became trapped in a coconut shredding machine at a processing shop in Pattaya on 26 December. The incident resulted in the loss of several fingers and caused critical injuries to his left hand, prompting an emergency rescue and hospitalisation.

 

The incident occurred at around 1.00 pm when the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Radio Centre in Pattaya received a report of a foreign worker trapped in industrial machinery. Rescue vehicles and medical teams were immediately dispatched to a coconut by-product shop located beside Wat Thung Kad, Moo 8, Bang Lamung sub-district, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

 

At the scene, rescuers found a coconut husk shredding facility that produces chopped coconut waste commonly used for gardening. The injured worker was identified as Mr Day, aged 18, a Mon ethnic migrant worker from Myanmar. His left hand was caught inside the coconut shredding machine, with fingers from the index finger to the little finger severed by the machine’s blades and his hand bones badly crushed.

 

Mr Day was found sitting in a severely weakened condition and struggling to breathe. Rescue workers had to use specialised equipment to pry open the machine and dismantle parts of the coconut husk mechanism before they were able to free his hand. First aid was administered at the scene before he was rushed to hospital for urgent medical treatment.

 

According to initial observations, the injured worker appeared exhausted and disoriented inside the building. He was reportedly unable to clearly explain what had happened, speaking incoherently and repeatedly. Rescue personnel therefore relied on their assessment of the scene and statements from colleagues.

 

Preliminary assumptions by the rescue team suggest that Mr Day was seated while feeding coconut husks into the shredding machine as part of his regular work duties. During the process, the husks were reportedly inserted at the wrong moment, causing his hand to slip into the machine’s internal mechanism.

 

TMN reported that the rotating blades then shredded his fingers and crushed his hand before the machine could be stopped. Fortunately, a co-worker noticed the incident quickly, switched off the machine and alerted emergency services, preventing further injury or loss of life.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• An 18-year-old Mon migrant worker from Myanmar lost several fingers in a coconut shredding machine incident in Pattaya.

• Rescue teams freed his trapped hand using specialised equipment before transferring him to hospital.

• The incident is believed to have occurred during routine work feeding coconut husks into the machine.

 

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 Adapted by Asean Now from TMN 2025-12-28

 

 

Always the poor - undefended, neglected, disregarded - condemned to menial labour, while owners and management evade accountability, and it is they who are injured, maimed, or killed by unsafe machinery...

 

There should have been guards on those machines, preventing such injuries....   & when they [migrant labourers] are not injured at work, they're crushed in building site accidents, or thrown out of the back of a pick-up... 

 

All very sad - I hope he's looked after.

A bit of a coincidence as I was watching some Youtube video last night of heavy metal workers in Pakistan. They were very skilled, but the potential of crushed hands and arms was all over the place and made me cringe. 

Poor young man maimed for life.