Boy Dies In Front Of Computer Inside Internet Cafe

[george]

Boy dies inside Internet cafe

BANGKOK: -- A boy died behind a computer keyboard while playing a popular online music game inside an internet caf้ in Hua Mark area Thursday, police said.

The unidentified boy, believed to be about 15 years old, was found dead nearly two hours after paying for service to use the computer at 1:40 pm.

Sarawut Khamjanya, 26, the caretaker of the shop, told police that he saw the boy appearing as if sleeping when the two-hour service he paid for was running out.

So, he alerted the boy that time had run out but the boy was staring at the ceiling and said nothing.

He checked and found the boy was not breathing so he ran out to alert police at a nearby police booth near the Lam Salee Intersection.

-- The Nation 2008-07-17

[THAILIBAN]

my god what a tragedy..... and all that just a stone throw away from my door

[pampal]

What did he die of?

[RakJungTorlae]

This happens more often then you think, all thou this one did pass on in just over 2 hrs is a little strange. OD perhaps?

[Mighty Mouse]

If your number is up then this is the best way to go. No pain, no trauma, it's such a pity though that he was just a boy and didn't get much of a chance to experience life.

[Boater]

interesting to see the cause of death at such a young age

RIP

[farang555]

i hope they dont plan to outlaw computers in bkk!

[surface]

i hope they dont plan to outlaw computers in bkk!

You're a real POS.

[Cuban]

I am aware of a similar case (Japan or USA) were someone had died of exhaustion & heart failure after playing computer games for a long time. Although there might be no connection with his use of a computer, he might have died from a congenital disorder. This might to the case I am refering to.

[quiksilva]

I don't see what this has to do with gaming. Two hours is nothing, I spend longer at the computer in the office every day.

[Moonrakers]

It was a heart attack according to the news just now.

[Steele404]

The question is... was it really 2 hours??? considering internet cafes are not allowed to service underage that late in the night.

another possible theory: The kid hopped from a different internet cafe before servicing that particular shop at 1:40am which could easily tally the number of computer hours to more than a dozen. Since some shops do happen to close a bit earlier than others.

[burman]

^ It was 1:40 pm when he was in the net cafe.

[TopDogger]

i hope they dont plan to outlaw computers in bkk!

This has been in the pipeline for some time.

[Cuban]

I don't see what this has to do with gaming.

Two hours is nothing, I spend longer at the computer in the office every day.

Slight differance between gaming and office work. Gaming on a computer 'usually' involves fast paced action, bright flashes/screen images/action and concentration, timing and repeatative key strokes. Office work is thinking and a bit of typing, excel, reading and creating polls on Thai Visa.

I would expect there is more to the story that, boy dies after 2 hours on a computer - but this level of news reporting is typical in Thailand (other places too). Don't let the truth disrupt a good headline.

[NoSpeakIt]

hard to believe someone could die after even a dozen hours on a computer. i think you need to get atleast into the 36 hour range.

[bkkjames]

Would be interesting to find out the exact cause of death before blaming gaming or computing. Perhaps the boy had a pre-existing heart condition (most likely). Not a Doctor but chances are IMO the poor kid could have just as easily suffered the same fate playing football in the park with his mates.

[najman]

"Don't let the truth disrupt a good headline. "

Wow people starting to understand what the media is really all about. so cool