Australian Teacher Lucky To Be Alive After Being Shot In The Head In Chiang Mai

[webfact]

Shot in the head, Melbourne teacher lucky to be alive

Mark Hawthorne

A Melbourne schoolteacher is lucky to be alive after being shot in the back of the head while on a school trip to Thailand.

Teachers Lynda Cody and Jess Lambden of Ringwood Secondary College had just departed a night market in Khum Kan Tok, in the northern city of Chiang Mai, when the car they were travelling was attacked by armed bandits.

Two bullets hit the car. One pierced the rear window, passed through two headrests, and hit Ms Cody in the back of the head.

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull. X-rays and a CT scan have since revealed no major damage, and she was released from hospital after receiving six stitches.

The second bullet hit the body of the car.

None of the eight Ringwood Seconday College students on the trip were involved in the incident.

The shooting took place at 10pm local time on Saturday, after a farewell dinner at sister school Montford College in Chiang Mai, which was being visited by the group from Ringwood Secondary College.

Ms Cody and Ms Lambden were visiting a night market to buy souvenirs before returning to Australia with their students.

A Montford teacher, known as Mr Suwan, drove off when the car was fired on.

Ringwood Secondary College principal Michael Phillips said: "Whilst the injury sustained by Lynda was serious, the incident was particularly stressful and both staff members will need counseling support as they realise how close they were to being shot. Some may also need some counseling. This has been arranged."

Assistant principal Julie Hughes is currently with the group, having flown over on Sunday. According to a spokesman, Ms Hughes is "liaising with the group, parents, the Department of Education and DFAT".

The incident was reported to local police, who are investigating.

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/national/shot-in-the-head-melbourne-teacher-lucky-to-be-alive-20110712-1hbo3.html

-- theage.com.au 2011-07-12

[Payboy]

The incident was reported to local police, who are investigating.

Consider it solved.

[laurentbkk]

The incident was reported to local police, who are investigating.

Consider it solved.

most probably.

[ronthai]

Does not sound as a random shooting. What was behind it??

Hope she pulls through ok, especially mentally

[harrisonkrs1]

case closed

[Boss]

Conclusion after police investigation : Attempted suicide gone wrong....

Edited July 12, 2011 by Boss

[CantSpell]

Chang Mai.....

There is no case, just coincidence :jap:

[bangkockney]

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.

[anon467367354]

Teachers wanted, good pay, health benefits, visa assistance, medical and bullet proof vest provided. This is not good for Thailand! This is shocking. Time to get rid of the stupid "lose face" mentality and start educating. Start with the stupid ass programs on the television that seem to baby sit the majority of the children in this country.

[basinboy]

Makes this story I read earlier today seem odd

Melbourne Teacher's car allegedly shot at...

[smileydude]

The incident was reported to local police, who are investigating.

Consider it solved.

most probably.

Actually thai police are pretty smart in solving cases especially getting leads etc. They may not be CSI but if the Australian Embassy is serious about getting to the bottom of this and piles pressure on the relevant authorities the results will come in. The shooting doesn't sound random but I think its premature to speculate.

Hopefully they won't just find a fall guy though.

[Just1Voice]

Someone didn't like their grades?

Edited July 12, 2011 by Just1Voice

[tragickingdom]

The incident was reported to local police, who are investigating.

Consider it solved.

most probably.

Depending on the kickback of course

[RogueExpat]

Even the most stupid, meathead, moronic dickheads would not start firing in a completely illogical random manner. There had to be reason they were firing at this car. Quite possibly mistaken identity, or some sort of dodgy deal gone sour.

[PhuketBlogger]

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.

Actually they were just unlucky and drove into the path of a bullet, said the police report.

[Thailand]

Very unusual to hear of such a case here in CM, guess there must be more to it than we know so far.

Glad to hear it was not too serious although without doubt highly traumatic for those involved.

I'm guessing the BIB will find no connection with the Downtown Inn!

[noahvail]

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.

Actually they were just unlucky and drove into the path of a bullet, said the police report.

And if they had not been in Thailand to begin with, this wouldn't have happened.

[Suradit]

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.

You must be new to Thai Visa.

[Dellboy218]

Or simply beeped their horn at a car ignoring red traffic lights.

[Gimbo]

Even the most stupid, meathead, moronic dickheads would not start firing in a completely illogical random manner.

Happens all the time where I am from...

[sjjmmi]

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.

You must be new to Thai Visa.

+1

[bushman1666]

BIB will conclude attempted suicide. Too many guns in this country!

[lannarebirth]

Even the most stupid, meathead, moronic dickheads would not start firing in a completely illogical random manner. There had to be reason they were firing at this car. Quite possibly mistaken identity, or some sort of dodgy deal gone sour.

There is no law enforcement in the provinces to speak of. What presence the police have is mainly to extort or act as protection for "people more important than everyone else". This knid of thing happens in the north all the time. No consequences. Ironically, the people who suffer most from the lack of law enforcement are political allies of the police.

[Samuian]

A Warning... if one want's someone shot, will very rarely make mistake!

Or much more likely just rivalring stundents brawl stuff..

Edited July 12, 2011 by Samuian

[happyrobert]

"Ringwood Secondary College principal Michael Phillips said: "Whilst the injury sustained by Lynda was serious, the incident was particularly stressful and both staff members will need counseling support as they realise how close they were to being shot..."

Does this guy speaky the English? What contradictions!

Oh, pu-leeeez. Is there anything humans don't need counseling or closure for? Bullied as children? Ignored by fathers? Ingrown toenails?

Go home and tell everyone about your near-death adventure in dangerous SEA!

Edited July 12, 2011 by happyrobert

[Suradit]

BIB will conclude attempted suicide. Too many guns in this country!

Maybe the British police who "investigated" the phone hacking case could be called in to assist. They'd probably arrest the woman for interfering with the free trajectory of the bullet.

[regfrancis]

Guns: ?? At the time newly elected John Howard did something about them after 56 were killed and injured at the Port Arthur massacre in 1966:

the Federal Government introduced the Medicare Levy Amendment Act 1996 that provided the revenue for the National Firearms Program through a one-off 0.2% increase in the Medicare levy. Known as the gun buy-back scheme, it started across the country on the 1 October 1996 and concluded on the 30 September 1997 ^[22] to purchase and destroy all semi-automatic rifles including .22 rimfires, semi-automatic shotguns and pump-action shotguns. The buyback was predicted to cost $A500 million and had wide community support. (wikipedia)

It seems to have worked for OZ so far

[DumFarang]

Does not sound as a random shooting. What was behind it??

Hope she pulls through ok, especially mentally

I was actually thinking that too. Just leaving a night market and getting shot at by armed gunmen doesn't sound right, does it?

[LomSak27]

There had to be reason they were firing at this car. Quite possibly mistaken identity, or some sort of dodgy deal gone sour.

Now this is classic thaivisa!

Do you think perhaps it was a dope deal gone wrong? How about a sex slavery deal gone sour. Wait, those teachers are notorious meth cookers, a la Breaking Bad, that must be it.

[TomJoad]

<br />

<br />

<br />The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.<br />

<br /><br /><br />Actually they were just unlucky and drove into the path of a bullet, said the police report.<br />

<br /><br />And if they had not been in Thailand to begin with, this wouldn't have happened.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

This wouldn't have happened in a developed country.