10-Year-Old Boy Dies Mysteriously At Siam Park In Bangkok

[happyrobert]

The park might very well be found liable, and yes, compensation payments - or offers of payment - in Thailand, are, at best, a joke; at worst, an insult. Fortunately for corporations, and wealthy individuals, in this country, US liability laws, and compensation levels, don't apply . . . . yet.

But hours - or was it even minutes - after the tragedy, the father is seeking compensation. The last thing on my mind, were it my child, and that soon after his death, would be talking about compensation. I'd be too numbed with shock; too overcome with grief. Mind-boggling, is one description that comes to mind . . . . Or am I being overly cynical?

No. If the info reported is accurate, then the father is a piece of sh!t and the child is in a better place without him.

Makes me want to vomit. It is one of the very few things here that will likely eventually lead me elsewhere. Say all the pros about Thai, there lust for money above all is nauseating.

Okay Thai defenders ad nauseum, whine to me "if you don't like it go away." Do so and you are supporting this kind of behavior, and it is by no means an isolated example.

Total lack of humanity. Total lack of conscience. Like sociopaths.

[Dukeleto]

The real shocker for me was "He was initially declared to be in a stable condition, but was pronounced dead at 8am yesterday" The question I would be asking is how did he manage to die in hospital when he was initially stable. This from Wiki: "Near drowning is the survival of a drowning event involving unconsciousness or water inhalation and can lead to serious secondary complications, including death, after the event." Surely medical professional have this basic rudementary information and apropriate action to prevent this tradgedy occuring. I would be asking some very serious questions at the hospital.

[ginjag]

The park might very well be found liable, and yes, compensation payments - or offers of payment - in Thailand, are, at best, a joke; at worst, an insult. Fortunately for corporations, and wealthy individuals, in this country, US liability laws, and compensation levels, don't apply . . . . yet.

But hours - or was it even minutes - after the tragedy, the father is seeking compensation. The last thing on my mind, were it my child, and that soon after his death, would be talking about compensation. I'd be too numbed with shock; too overcome with grief. Mind-boggling, is one description that comes to mind . . . . Or am I being overly cynical?

No. If the info reported is accurate, then the father is a piece of sh!t and the child is in a better place without him.

Makes me want to vomit. It is one of the very few things here that will likely eventually lead me elsewhere. Say all the pros about Thai, there lust for money above all is nauseating.

Okay Thai defenders ad nauseum, whine to me "if you don't like it go away." Do so and you are supporting this kind of behavior, and it is by no means an isolated example.

Total lack of humanity. Total lack of conscience. Like sociopaths.

Both of you are saying what is reality here, similar to my post #24--Ginjag

[jucel]

Very sorry for the young boys loss of life and disgusted that the parents have so little grief that they are already after compensation for such a tragic accident.

Typical behaviour, contemptible and utterly disgusting.

beat me to it! my sentiments exactly. Quite similar to the girl that killed by the porsche. Her mother didn't look too upset on the photos and forgave the boy. I'm surmising she was given (in relative terms), a lot of money. The be all and end all of Asian people

[drdoom6996]

I used to life guard as a summer job. We nearly got sued in the UK when a kid went under, His parents were shocked and wanted blood.

We were investigated and found not to be in the wrong. The child, a non swimmer had entered the pool without adult supervision and gone straight under, someone grabbed him and he ran back to his parent crying in shock.

His parents quoted that he'd been in a rubber ring but managed to be on the bottom for 5mins. The claim was not logical but shocked parents might do anything to divert the blame from the fact that even with lifeguards (who are there as a backup not an assurance) a non-swimming child should Always be accompanied by a swimming adult.

I'm assuming the 10year old was a non-swimmer here based on the fact that the report says 'who was swimming in a 1.2-metre pool at the amusement park and should not have been out of his depth'.....

RIP - It's tragic for parents learn a lesson this way, I hope all other parents take notice. There could be better water safety campaigning in Thailand.

I am sincerely sorry for the death of one so young. Most Thais don't know how to swim. Some can but not properly. While we are teaching math, could we teach swimming in the schools as well. This is a tragedy.

[JohnAllan]

A Thai ten-year-old, could very well have been out of his depth, at 1.2 metres.

[JohnAllan]

Life guards or no... When I take my kids 'swimming' I make SURE my eyes are on them at all times.

I'm sure everyone knows how lax a lot of Thai parents are when looking after their kids. Just throw em in a school and let the teachers deal with it. Problem? Sue the school.

I'm sure it's the same thing at other venues.

It;s not so much a lax approach, but a lack of appreciation of risk. And that comes down to poor education, again. Thais, no matter who, or where, have a very poor grasp of what constitutes risk. and safety standards. My eleven year old son, has a twenty one year old, Thai half-brother; and I don't trust him to take the younger one anywhere, beyond the limits of our Thonglor soi.

Edited May 3, 2011 by JohnAllan

[powderpuff]

did not know about this secondary drowning stuff.......nice to know.

Which is why you will often see these types of victims on pure bottled oxygen. It helps to scavenge excess moisture out of the lungs. If the paramedics don't apply oxygen insist on it. RIP little fella.

[housepainter]

Died after he was hauled out of the water then. At least he didn't die from drowning but rather the application of Thai resusitation.

The latter I once witnessed while taking a stroll along Beach Road Pattaya ona otherwise normal Sunday afternoon. A man had been dragged out of the sea, semi-conscious and moaning. Prostrate on the pavement he was then assisted by the Sawoonborboon Volunteers who attempted some street musicianship by way of taking turns to beat out the rythm of life on his abdomen mostly with a few arratic blows hitting above the heart area and the odd one for good measuere to the throat.

Despite this the man kept groaning and wouldn't go quietly.

I expect the boy put up quite a struggle too.

As the father, the Thai sad dad is doing now. Struggling to come to terms with the sad loss of his beloved son who he allowed to swim in the pool having ascertained the safety provisions, floatation aids and life gurads in close attendance. This is Thailand after all and he is Thai so should be aware of the inherent dangers and true meaning of 'Safety First' signs in the Land of Smiles.

At least the dad, sorry, the sad dad was able to hold himself together to eneter into the long and protected negotiations of how much the death of your son is worth in Thailand and not get distracted by other matters such as grieving.

No. It's all about the colour of money. As the report makes clear.

Must make a note of the name for when I want to trade up to a new Fortuner.

Next.

[softgeorge]

Parents are Ultimately responsible for thier children. You don't take them to such a place and put the onus on others. No compensation should be paid.

[jimbeam1]

Not so sure this had anything to do with the park.

pulled out of the pool on Saturday

initially declared to be in a stable condition

pronounced dead at 8am yesterday

(Sunday)

It doesn't take >12 hours to drown especially if you're out of the water for most of that time. Reckon it would have happened if the boy had been in a shoppping mall and collapsed. Have to wait for autopsy.

My thoughts go out to the parents and relatives of the kid. God rest his soul...

I agree with you. But his father surely isn't slow in jumping on the band wagon?

[anterian]

When I did my Lifesaver training as a teen we were always told that in any near drowning incident we were to advise the person or parents of children to seek medical attention. We were told that it is possible to "drown" several hours later if any water had been inhaled into the lungs.

I am not a doctor and am going off memory but the way I remember it was explained is that the fluid in the lungs draws more fluid into them, effectively drowning the person even though they are out of the water. Someone may have better knowledge or be able to explain it better, but as a parent now it is something to be aware of with my kids, they love the pool too.

The word you are looking for is osmosis, and the delayed drowning scenario can be true with a fresh water incident. It cannot happen in the sea as salt water has a higher osmotic pressure than blood. This is why a cut stings. It follows from this that a beach lifeguard needs different training from a pool attendent.

If it was a crowded pool he may have been partially concussed by a blow from another user, a quite common happening.

[Buchholz]

Add another to the list...

2007-10-23

BANGKOK: One woman was killed and five others including a 9 year-old girl, were injured when a roller-coaster style water sluice passenger boat fell from the crest of its artificial hill at Siam Park on the outskirts of Bangkok on Tuesday.

The accident occurred at midday when the boat-carriage fell from the top of the railway trestle-like structure some 20 metres above the ground.

Good informative post.

Quote : "The boy's father, Sutham, has filed a complaint with Bang Chan police and is in talks with Siam Park executives about compensation. "

If it were my child financial gain would be the last thing on my mind BUT This is Thailand where money is more important than life itself !!!

In the earlier Siam Park death case cited above:

Pachadaporn Khongkrarian died when the water-sluice passenger boat she was riding on collided violently with another. Before the case went to court, the family initially demanded Bt600,000 compensation but raised it to Bt5 million.

The park's lawyer, Anek Khamchum, told the court that the defendants wished to pay the family about Bt700,000 in compensation as well as shoulder the cost of the victim's two daughters' schooling until they complete a university degree.

The plaintiff's lawyer agreed to drop the lawsuit if such a compensation package was agreed upon.

Daily Xpress / 2008-03-25

[Rimmer]

Inflammatory post removed from view

[happyrobert]

When I did my Lifesaver training as a teen we were always told that in any near drowning incident we were to advise the person or parents of children to seek medical attention. We were told that it is possible to "drown" several hours later if any water had been inhaled into the lungs.

I am not a doctor and am going off memory but the way I remember it was explained is that the fluid in the lungs draws more fluid into them, effectively drowning the person even though they are out of the water. Someone may have better knowledge or be able to explain it better, but as a parent now it is something to be aware of with my kids, they love the pool too.

The word you are looking for is osmosis, and the delayed drowning scenario can be true with a fresh water incident. It cannot happen in the sea as salt water has a higher osmotic pressure than blood. This is why a cut stings. It follows from this that a beach lifeguard needs different training from a pool attendent.

If it was a crowded pool he may have been partially concussed by a blow from another user, a quite common happening.

Sorry, Bud, that's not true. While you can obviously drown in either fresh or saltwater, it is saltwater in the lungs from a near-drowning that, hours later, after "successful" rescue, can draw fluids from the bloodstream into the lungs resulting in a drowning while lying in bed in a hospital -- if the doctors aren't trained to counteract it.

Basic EMT1 training. Even cops in California are trained with this knowledge to pass on to family members.

Facts straight-then post.

Edited May 3, 2011 by happyrobert

[ScubaBuddha]

When I did my Lifesaver training as a teen we were always told that in any near drowning incident we were to advise the person or parents of children to seek medical attention. We were told that it is possible to "drown" several hours later if any water had been inhaled into the lungs.

I am not a doctor and am going off memory but the way I remember it was explained is that the fluid in the lungs draws more fluid into them, effectively drowning the person even though they are out of the water. Someone may have better knowledge or be able to explain it better, but as a parent now it is something to be aware of with my kids, they love the pool too.

The word you are looking for is osmosis, and the delayed drowning scenario can be true with a fresh water incident. It cannot happen in the sea as salt water has a higher osmotic pressure than blood. This is why a cut stings. It follows from this that a beach lifeguard needs different training from a pool attendent.

If it was a crowded pool he may have been partially concussed by a blow from another user, a quite common happening.

True the method of drowning is different with salt or fresh water, but it certainly can and does happen. Pulmonary surfactant is washed away in a near drowning causing the lings to fail hours later. Some hospitals actually stock cow surfactant to apply to a near drowning victim's lungs.

[WarpSpeed]

My wife took our children there last week. She was very impressed with the changes to the park. 2 years ago it was run down and poorly maintained. Now it is in good condition and she said they have many life guards on duty.

She mention how a life guard ran across the pool to scold a hiso lady for feeding her child in the water against park rules. Impressive that he didn't care about her loss of face and enforced the park rules.

The new management seem to be doing a good job.

That's good to hear we are/were hoping to go there sometime soon..

Sad for this boy and his father but I wouldn't let my children out of my sight at any water park or any other attraction for that matter able to swim or not..I won't leave their life in anyone elses hands..

Edited May 3, 2011 by WarpSpeed

[garvin123g]

I used to life guard as a summer job. We nearly got sued in the UK when a kid went under, His parents were shocked and wanted blood.

We were investigated and found not to be in the wrong. The child, a non swimmer had entered the pool without adult supervision and gone straight under, someone grabbed him and he ran back to his parent crying in shock.

His parents quoted that he'd been in a rubber ring but managed to be on the bottom for 5mins. The claim was not logical but shocked parents might do anything to divert the blame from the fact that even with lifeguards (who are there as a backup not an assurance) a non-swimming child should Always be accompanied by a swimming adult.

I'm assuming the 10year old was a non-swimmer here based on the fact that the report says 'who was swimming in a 1.2-metre pool at the amusement park and should not have been out of his depth'.....

RIP - It's tragic for parents learn a lesson this way, I hope all other parents take notice. There could be better water safety campaigning in Thailand.

First Post.. I think.. or at least in a Looongggg time from me..

I was Happy to hear that your firm was found not at fault,.. there are too many blame game/greed game law suits that damage the inocent party..

Anyway,

I could not swim until I was early teens... despite many swimming courses et al ..

When my children were still infants I worked with them to be comfortable in the water and they would SHOCK other parents at out BBQ's when they would dive in the deep end and lap the pool at like 3 to 4 years old..

As I knew we were almost always living (at that time) in compounds with pools, I knew they needed this skill critically.. an essential.

If more parents took there parenting role as a mentor/leader/educator, the world would be much better..

The society today is pretty close to the society we deserve.. True in ANY culture..

Just my 2 cents

I avoided leaving our kids safety at the hands of others, but tried very hard to equip them to one day fend for themselves..

Oh, they have all Graduated good Universities now and are living productive lives ....

but a parent always worries

Edited May 3, 2011 by garvin123g

[Beetlejuice]

The boy's father, Sutham, has filed a complaint with Bang Chan police and is in talks with Siam Park executives about compensation.

I hope the boy’s father has a truckload of cash at hand to fight his case; otherwise his chances of obtaining a satisfactory settlement will be virtually nil.

I also hope that the owners of the park do not have powerful friends and contacts, in this country where people can be above the law.

Otherwise the results will remain a mystery and conveniently for the park, inconclusive, filed under F, for forget it and make it disappear.

[anterian]

When I did my Lifesaver training as a teen we were always told that in any near drowning incident we were to advise the person or parents of children to seek medical attention. We were told that it is possible to "drown" several hours later if any water had been inhaled into the lungs.

I am not a doctor and am going off memory but the way I remember it was explained is that the fluid in the lungs draws more fluid into them, effectively drowning the person even though they are out of the water. Someone may have better knowledge or be able to explain it better, but as a parent now it is something to be aware of with my kids, they love the pool too.

The word you are looking for is osmosis, and the delayed drowning scenario can be true with a fresh water incident. It cannot happen in the sea as salt water has a higher osmotic pressure than blood. This is why a cut stings. It follows from this that a beach lifeguard needs different training from a pool attendent.

If it was a crowded pool he may have been partially concussed by a blow from another user, a quite common happening.

True the method of drowning is different with salt or fresh water, but it certainly can and does happen. Pulmonary surfactant is washed away in a near drowning causing the lings to fail hours later. Some hospitals actually stock cow surfactant to apply to a near drowning victim's lungs.

Osmosis is the tendency of the solute in a weak solution to cross a membrane into a more concentrated solution, in other words to balance the two concentrations. Human body fluids are obviously saltier than fresh water, but sea water is saltier than body fluids. The removal of the alveoli mucus lining, will facilitate any osmosis.