Pictures courtesy of Komchadluek

A critically ill 63-year-old man was successfully airlifted to specialist care during the New Year holiday after suffering severe convulsions, following a time-critical medical evacuation praised by the Deputy Prime Minister. The emergency mission, carried out on 1 January 2026, saw the patient transported from Li district in Lamphun province to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital within 95 minutes, ensuring he reached doctors in time for urgent treatment.

The rescue took place amid widespread New Year celebrations, a period traditionally associated with increased emergency incidents and logistical challenges. According to officials, the Northern Regional Operations Centre received an urgent alert during the afternoon regarding the man’s condition, prompting immediate coordination between aviation and medical teams to initiate an aerial evacuation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, publicly commended the operation and the personnel involved. He highlighted the performance of aircraft ทส. 5120 and the emergency medical Sky Doctor team, who worked together to stabilise and transport the patient under tight time constraints.

The helicopter was dispatched from Chiang Mai carrying an emergency medical team and flew directly to the football field at Wiang Chedi School, which had been prepared as a temporary landing site. There, the patient was transferred aboard the aircraft and provided with continuous monitoring and full life-support equipment throughout the flight.

The helicopter later landed at Wing 41 airbase in Chiang Mai, where the patient was handed over to specialist doctors for further treatment. The entire operation, from alert and take-off to delivery into medical care, took just one hour and 35 minutes, a timeframe officials described as critical to the patient’s survival.

Mr Suchart said the mission demonstrated the government’s commitment to placing public safety and human life as a top priority, particularly during long holiday periods. He noted that personnel, aircraft and emergency systems had been placed on full standby throughout the New Year break to ensure rapid responses to life-threatening incidents.

He also expressed his appreciation to all agencies involved, praising their dedication and sacrifice in carrying out duties during the holiday. The successful operation, he said, helped reassure the public that professional emergency services remain ready to respond during moments of crisis, regardless of timing or conditions.

Komchadluek reported that authorities indicated that emergency aviation and medical teams would continue to maintain heightened readiness during the remainder of the holiday period. The focus remains on ensuring rapid access to advanced medical care for patients in remote or hard-to-reach areas across northern Thailand.

Key Takeaways

• A 63-year-old man with severe convulsions was airlifted from Lamphun to Chiang Mai on 1 January 2026.

• The Sky Doctor mission took 95 minutes from Li district to specialist medical care.

• Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin praised the operation as proof of emergency readiness during holidays.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Komchadluek 2026-01-03

 

 

Fantastic work to all involved.

Life savers!