A police communications officer lost consciousness while repairing a radio signal mast more than 40 metres high in Saraburi province on 20 February 2026, prompting a dramatic rescue operation. The incident occurred in the afternoon beside the Saraburi Provincial Police headquarters in Thap Kwang subdistrict, Kaeng Khoi district. Colleagues and bystanders watched anxiously as efforts were made to bring him safely down.

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According to reports received via the 191 radio network, the officer, identified as Police Lance Corporal Chanathit Phromsaeng, had climbed the mast to carry out maintenance work. He was tasked with repairing the communications mast and replacing a light bulb at the top of the structure. During the operation, he fainted while positioned at the summit.

When reporters arrived at the scene, the officer had begun to regain some consciousness but lacked the strength to descend unaided. Fellow officers and onlookers gathered below, recording video and taking photographs as the rescue unfolded. A colleague climbed to the top of the mast to rouse him and prevent further injury.

The two officers carefully edged down the structure little by little, lowering themselves to a height of nearly 30 metres above the ground. At that point, a crane from a nearby factory arrived to assist. Two rescue personnel were lifted in a basket to help secure the officer and bring him safely to the ground.

A fellow officer who had accompanied Police Lance Corporal Chanathit said their team had been assigned to repair the communications mast. He stated that the officer is believed to have fainted due to the heat, his physical condition and the height of the mast. He added that it was fortunate colleagues noticed something was wrong and climbed up to support him as he held by a safety harness attached to the structure.

Amarin reported that Thap Kwang mayor Poo Taengoen said municipal authorities were contacted to provide a hydraulic platform for the rescue. However, the municipality did not have equipment capable of reaching the height required, as the mast exceeded 40 metres. Officials then coordinated with a nearby factory, with the process of arranging suitable equipment taking about one hour, with the officer was eventually brought down safely.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Key Takeaways

• A police officer fainted while repairing a radio mast over 40 metres high in Saraburi on 20 February 2026.

• Colleagues climbed the mast to support him before a factory crane completed the rescue.

• Coordination for suitable rescue equipment took one hour due to the mast’s height.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 22 Feb 2026

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.. and the moral of this story is "Do not climb radio masts if you are unfit, have no experience of climbing such structures, and are afraid of heights..."

How many police does it take to change a light bulb?

Apparently more than anyone would have expected when the mast is 40 metres high.

Jokes aside, this turned into a genuinely difficult situation. The poor guy was doing routine maintenance when the heat, the height, and sheer physical strain caught up with him.

Losing consciousness at the very top of a mast is the stuff of nightmares, and it’s only thanks to his colleagues that this didn’t end far worse.

Credit to the officer who climbed up after him. Then there’s the hour‑long scramble to find equipment tall enough to reach them. It’s a reminder that even straightforward rescue operations can get complicated fast when you’re dealing with heights.

Glad to hear he made it down safely in the end. He's probably been grounded for the foreseeable future!

Did the light bulb end up getting changed?

Poor guy. Don't they hire trained professionals for this kind of specialised work???