Woman, two sons injured by falling arch at Govt House fair for Children's Day

The Nation on Sunday

Chutima Ploenwong

BANGKOK: -- A 35-year-old mother and her two young sons were injured at Government House yesterday when a wooden arch erected as part of National Children's Day festivities collapsed on them.

A gust of wind toppled the arch onto the three at 3.25pm, as they rested behind the structure in the front yard of the Santi Maitree Building. Khon Kaen mother Chutima Ploenwong was knocked unconscious and suffered a back injury, while sons Jessadaporn Khomsing, 10, and Anucha Khomsing, 7, were hurt.

PM’s Secretary-General Suranand Vejjajiva visited the three at Mission Hospital and said his office would take full responsibility for their care. He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had expressed concern about the three and ordered a fact-finding committee be set up to probe what caused the accident within three days.

PM's Office spokesman Tossaporn Serirak said Chutima had a scratch above her eyebrow and was experiencing back pain. An X-ray result showed a crack on her 12th vertebra, while Jessadaporn suffered bruising and Anucha required three stitches to a head wound. The three remained in hospital last night for further observation.

The celebration saw lots of kids visit Government House, with a long queue forming to sit in the prime minister's chair and many enjoying activities.

Yingluck launched a National Children's Day 2013 stamp set featuring a picture of 20 boys and girls from 10 Asean countries holding hands. It the longest stamp ever produced in the 130-year history of the Thai Post Office, at 124 millimetres. While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Yingluck, accompanied by her son Supasek Amornchat, earlier presided over an event to kick off Children's Day at Sanam Suea-Pa, hosted by the Education Ministry. In her speech, Yingluck urged all parties to give importance to children and youth and to give them public forums to think and express themselves creatively. She also urged kids to be disciplined and dutiful, as called for in the motto she gave for the occasion: "Uphold Discipline, Enhance Knowledge and Bring Thailand towards Asean". She vowed to have all ministries boost children’s development in aspects such as academic achievement, intelligence and good attitude and virtue.

At Parliament, where 1,000 free "first bicycles" were to be handed out to children, parents and kids formed a long queue as early as 5am to get the bikes, only to find rules for the event had changed and a lucky draw would be held. Many parents who came early also complained about officials' refusal to let them into the building in the morning, when it was pouring with rain.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, opening a Children’s Day event at Army headquarters in Bangkok, said all the armed forces saw the importance of children and prepared the event well including a display of armaments. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, hosting activities for kids at City Hall, handed out 300 scholarships, each worth Bt1,000, and urged kids to join ongoing events until January 20 at 37 youth centres, 30 libraries and nine sport centres.

-- The Nation 2013-01-13

Was she able to get an ambulance?

While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Aww, bless.

While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Aww, bless.

The goverment never miss a trick do they ?....

The recent feng shui adjustments only protect the pollies, not visitors.

Hope she's ok

That picture has so many things wrong with it. No one is comforting the kids and no one is checking for breathing or a pulse. Everyone is just standing around and the one person closest to them has the nerve to take a picture and give it to a newspaper. It's hard to believe that a human being would rather take pictures than comfort two young kids or perform live saving checks on the unconscious woman. It's a sad day for society when taking pictures is more important than helping to stop the suffering directly infront of you. I really hope it wasn't taken by a reporter for the Nation...

Perhaps she should sue the PM for attempted murder.

Was she able to get an ambulance?

Good question, she probably was eventually if it was stuck in traffic which was very likely, it could have been a very long wait. No one would have pulled in to let it pass, Thai mentality again.

Was she able to get an ambulance?

Probably not, the ambulance is reserved solely for the politicians not the insignificant little people.

While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Aww, bless.

If you look closely a hand is on the forehead of the boy in the foreground,at her feet looks like an official with clipboard and event tag. What else do you suppose from this picture?

It's a sad day for society when taking pictures is more important than helping to stop the suffering directly infront of you. I really hope it wasn't taken by a reporter for the Nation...

You should take up your objections to this practice with the BBC,CNN, Fox and every other new agency in the world then....reporters, report

If you look closely a hand is on the forehead of the boy in the foreground,at her feet looks like an official with clipboard and event tag. What else do you suppose from this picture?

All I can focus on in that picture is an unconscious woman not being helped but photographed instead.

Edited January 13, 201313 yr by Bluespunk

If you look closely a hand is on the forehead of the boy in the foreground,at her feet looks like an official with clipboard and event tag. What else do you suppose from this picture?

It appears that no one knows basic first aid, probably 100 people standing around and not a single person has bothered to place the poor woman in the coma position. She is left laying on her chest with her feet stretched out.

If you look closely a hand is on the forehead of the boy in the foreground,at her feet looks like an official with clipboard and event tag. What else do you suppose from this picture?

All I can focus on in that picture is an unconscious woman not being helped but photographed instead.

beat me to it by a second

If you look closely a hand is on the forehead of the boy in the foreground,at her feet looks like an official with clipboard and event tag. What else do you suppose from this picture?

All I can focus on in that picture is an unconscious woman not being helped but photographed instead.

How about, maybe the ambulance had been called for and the services were told she had injured her back and gave instructions not to move her until they arrived.

Just sayin'

Just checked the photograph again and noticed she has a cushion under her head.

I wonder how old the kid was, that wanted Thaksin back? 6yo??

Just checked the photograph again and noticed she has a cushion under her head.

Which may be her own.

Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Anyone who believed this bullshit statement stand on their head and recite Websters dictionary twice.

If you look closely a hand is on the forehead of the boy in the foreground,at her feet looks like an official with clipboard and event tag. What else do you suppose from this picture?

All I can focus on in that picture is an unconscious woman not being helped but photographed instead.

How about, maybe the ambulance had been called for and the services were told she had injured her back and gave instructions not to move her until they arrived.

Just sayin'

Possible. How long does it take them to come out of Parliarment house for an emergency, after all paramedics and an ambulance are stationed there. Oh that's right, forget it, someone may get into trouble if they authorise the use of these services as they are for the politicians only. Just leave her on the ground and another ambo should be along in the next hour or so.

That picture has so many things wrong with it. No one is comforting the kids and no one is checking for breathing or a pulse. Everyone is just standing around and the one person closest to them has the nerve to take a picture and give it to a newspaper. It's hard to believe that a human being would rather take pictures than comfort two young kids or perform live saving checks on the unconscious woman. It's a sad day for society when taking pictures is more important than helping to stop the suffering directly infront of you. I really hope it wasn't taken by a reporter for the Nation...

Unlikely - he's currently in intensive care.

I suppose the finger pointing will go back to the contractor, who will be charged with something, take robes and offer merit for a month in a monastery, if he has not already left the country. Government absolved.

Even 6yo's can see through the BS and realise what the charter amendments are all about.

While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Aww, bless.

Was that boy her son?

While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Aww, bless.

The goverment never miss a trick do they ?....

Another report says the boy is 6 yrs old.

Sorry but i cannot begin to believe that a 6 yr old boy

understands what the charter amendments are all about,

the implications, etc.

While presenting certificates to 60 children who won an essay competition, Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Aww, bless.

The goverment never miss a trick do they ?....

Another report says the boy is 6 yrs old.

Sorry but i cannot begin to believe that a 6 yr old boy

understands what the charter amendments are all about,

the implications, etc.

The irony of this obvious lie is that the PTP cronies expect the populace to believe it. This is how stupid they think Thai people are.

Another report says the boy is 6 yrs old.

Sorry but i cannot begin to believe that a 6 yr old boy

understands what the charter amendments are all about,

the implications, etc.

99.9% of the adult Thai population dont understand what the charter amendents are all about....

This is how stupid they think Thai people are.

the PTP cronies must be members of TV as well...

Yingluck was told by a boy that he wanted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - to return to Thailand, and so he hoped that the government's charter amendment efforts would be successful.

Anyone who believed this bullshit statement stand on their head and recite Websters dictionary twice.

This was a very smart kid apparently.He also added that he beleived there was absolutely no connection beween the temple dispute and the gas deal, that the goverment's rice pledging policy was beneficial to the Thai people and that all politicians were honest.... except for Abhisit... and that his favourite TV programmes were Yingluck Meets the People and Thomas the Tank Engine.