Grenade-kicking Thai Policeman in stable condition

[webfact]

Grenade-Kicking Policeman In Stable Condition
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- In one of the most iconic and widely shared videos of the clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters in Bangkok yesterday, a group of policemen were huddling together with their shields up, facing the demonstrators.

Suddenly, a grenade was suddenly thrown at one of the shields held by a policeman. It took several heartbeats for the police officer to realise what hit his shield. Then he decided to lift the shield up and tried to kick the grenade away.

But too late. The grenade exploded, and the whole group of police officers disappeared from the frame in the smoke from the blast. Viewers were left to guess what happened to the officer who attempted to kick the explosive.

Many commentators on the social network also expressed their admiration to the cop for his apparent attempt to save his fellow officers from the blast.

The video was first shared by a BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Mr. Jonathan Head, and its still-images later made it to headlines of several newspapers in Thailand.

Today, it emerged that the "sidekick cop" or "grenade kicker hero" - as nicknamed by Netizens - is still alive and making good recovery at Police Hospital.

The policeman was identified as Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Teeradet Ui-Charoen. Medical workers said he suffered severe legs injuries from the grenade blast, but the wounds fortunately did not need amputation.

Ms. Jeerapa Lek-khu, the wife of the 44-year old policeman, said she was saddened by the incident and worried that the wounds might be infected in the future.

According to Ms. Jeerapa, Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Teeradet told her that he was ordering his friend to place a shield next to him when the grenade was thrown at the team, so he decided to kick it away.

"He decided to do that because he loves his friends a lot," Ms. Jeerapa said, "I′ve been with him for a long time. I know how much he loves his friends".

However, she added, "But I don′t want my husband to be a hero. I just want his legs to be normal again".

Several police officers admitted that the appropriate response was in fact to stay low on the ground 3 metres away from the grenade. The riot shield alone cannot prevent damage from the blast neither, as the officer behind the shield could still risk suffering damages from the shrapnel, the officers said.

The police believed the grenade to be an M67 type. Both the police force and the military are known to possess the grenades.

Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Thammanoon Tas-see, who also suffered left leg and right cheek injuries from the grenade blast, was later transported to Police Hospital today for his treatment.

Medical workers described his condition as severe.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Narongsak Saowakhon, deputy director of Police Hospital told our correspondent that Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Teeradet’s left arm and his two legs including his toes are broken severely, while Pol Sen.Sgt.Maj. Thammanoon suffered broken leg, and broken facial bone from the explosion.

The medical team had tried to cohere the bones together, and will need to closely observe their conditions to make sure the wounds are kept disinfected, the deputy director said, adding that it is still unclear whether Teeradet would be able to walk normally again.

However, the most severely injured policeman is identified as Pol Sen Sgt Maj Thammanoon Chapanya, who was reportedly shot on his occipital bone.

Pol.Lt.Gen Narongsak said the officer is staying in Intensive Care Unit and has not responded to any gesture. The doctors have placed him under cardiac stimulants and closely monitor him 24-hour.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNU1qZ3hNalV3TUE9PQ==&sectionid=TURNd01BPT0=


-- Khaosod English 2014-02-20

Edited March 25, 2014 by Support
photo removed for copyright rules

[chrisinth]

I am sure there will be some that will criticize the police officers actions by lifting his shield to kick the grenade away, but the shield alone would not have stopped all the blast.

For me, K. Teeradet Ui-Charoen acted instinctively and bravely in the face of the danger that was before him, and should rightly be called a hero.

[alfalfa19]

This man is a real hero. I hope that he and his family are well taken care of for the future. He could have easily stayed where he was, and let the guys on the outside take the brunt of the blast. I don't care what side he is on, he acted with great bravery and honor. It's hard to believe that his leg will not be amputated after seeing that video.

[Rob8891]

No matter who you think you might "support", these guys do not deserve - in fact no one deserves - to be injured like this. What a pity. Hope karma bites the perpetrators in the soft dangly bits....

A brave man!

Edited February 20, 2014 by Rob8891

[Spalpeen]

A true hero. He put himself in harms way to save his friends.

[drand11]

Quite a heroic act!

[aussieinthailand]

Unfortunately after seeing this article on three separate western news channels and a video HERE TV, I made comment and was accused by a TV member of spreading lies and that it was the police threw the grenade not the protesters, there is video of the incident and you can see the grenade flying through the air, hit the police shield and the attempted kicking of it away, and the boot of the policeman flying backwards towards the rear rank of police, looking at the video you can see the direction the police are facing and the direction of the incoming grenade, so I wonder if the TV Suthep supporters STILL believe that a police rank would have had to be in front of the victim and stand up turn around and throw the grenade into the police rank behind them, or finally accept that so many of the protesters (not all) are most defiantly not "peaceful protesters" as so often proclaimed????????

I also wonder if the TV member has the stones (intestinal fortitude) to apologize for his accusation of me spreading lie's? I think not,

[kmj]

Just seen this video on the news, that's one brave person... respect.

[Mackie]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

[kmj]

Unfortunately after seeing this article on three separate western news channels and a video HERE TV, I made comment and was accused by a TV member of spreading lies and that it was the police threw the grenade not the protesters, there is video of the incident and you can see the grenade flying through the air, hit the police shield and the attempted kicking of it away, and the boot of the policeman flying backwards towards the rear rank of police, looking at the video you can see the direction the police are facing and the direction of the incoming grenade, so I wonder if the TV Suthep supporters STILL believe that a police rank would have had to be in front of the victim and stand up turn around and throw the grenade into the police rank behind them, or finally accept that so many of the protesters (not all) are most defiantly not "peaceful protesters" as so often proclaimed????????

I also wonder if the TV member has the stones (intestinal fortitude) to apologize for his accusation of me spreading lie's? I think not,

yes good luck with that, you just have to accept some TV members are just <deleted>.

[jollyman]

Sethup clinging to straws,always a drowning man clings to straws. How any one with a brain can accuse the police of throwing this grenade is just amazing

Here the face of final victory

Edited February 20, 2014 by jollyman

[ExpatOilWorker]

He is a true hero.

[jeanpierre]

He is a true hero.

you mean zero?

[chrisinth]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Quote

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies. alt=wai2.gif width=20 height=20>

Let us rightly stay away from Hollywood movies. Extract from the OP (which I would agree is pretty accurate for protection from a riot shield):

"Several police officers admitted that the appropriate response was in fact to stay low on the ground 3 metres away from the grenade. The riot shield alone cannot prevent damage from the blast neither, as the officer behind the shield could still risk suffering damages from the shrapnel"

The officer did not have the 3 metres and used initiative to make distance between the device and his comrades. The purpose of a grenade is to spread the shrapnel and not to direct the blast, so the breach in the 'riot shield wall' would have created a blast path only where the shield was out of position. The M67 (as with all grenades) is a nasty piece of work, as below description states:

The M67 grenade contains 6.5 ounces of composition B explosive. The grenade weighs 14 ounces in total.

It can be thrown 30 to 35 meters by the average male soldier. Its fuse delays detonation between 4 and 5 seconds after the spoon is released. Steel fragments (not to be confused with shrapnel) are provided by the grenade body and produce an injury radius of 15 meters, with a fatality radius of 5 meters, though some fragments can disperse as far out as 250 meters.

So yes, lets stay away from Hollywood movies, eh

[kmj]

He is a true hero.

you mean zero?

you really think this policeman is a zero? see what I mean about some TV members ( see above )

[noitom]

When you sign up for police duty, you have to be ready for this. It's a rare thing to read about this type of action by Thai police. Hats off to this cop. They are valuable and perform an important service. What ever happened to that hit and run cop killer on Sukhumvit Thonglor driving that high speed sports car? What happened to the senior police who was attempting to collude with the perpetrator's family. If killing a cop in a hit and run is not taken seriously, Thais and foreigners will lose respect for Thai police.

[Somtamnication]

Not seen often in the police, but this guy is a true hero. I am glad he did not lose his legs.

[phosphorescent]

It's obvious that many posters here watch Hollywood movies. We can talk movies, or we can talk reality. In reality this man actually endangered his own man. The rule is to stay low and do not break the ranks. He did the opposite and actually increased the number of casualties. I don't doubt he had the best intentions. However he acted recklessly and exposed his colleagues to shrapnel by breaking the ranks. In reality he is actually responsible for higher number of casualties. Brave act - yes, hero - no. Back to your Hollywood movies.

The rule is to stay low '3 meters' from the grenade and behind the shields. It is obvious from the video that the grenade was a lot closer than 3 meters. If you look closely, you can see that he attempted to move back, realized he couldn't and then tried to kick the grenade a safe distance from himself and his men. Would things have been different if he hadn't bravely acted in the way he did? We will never know. It is easy to condemn his actions with hindsight and while looking at a video of the incident from the safety of your own home. He didn't have that option.

[monkey4u]

The man has balls.

Lucky for him they are still intact

[alfalfa19]

He is a true hero.

you mean zero?

Actually, no. However, your attempt at a witticism is acknowledged.

[sms747]

He is a true hero.

you mean zero?

Really, what would you have done in his place?, after you cacked your pants that is, of course the bloke is a hero.

[richard_smith237]

I have seen a photo of the 'Grenade kickers' foot.. Its messy... I can't see how they can save it...

The photo is pretty gruesome, so I won't post it, unless a Mod reading this thread says its ok.

[pee paub]

I agree that policeman is a very brave man, but there is something I don't understand. In the video, there does not seem to be any shrapnel from this grenade. If the grenade had a "fatality radius of 5 meters", why is this brave man not dead, the video camera was not damaged, and only one other policeman was injured? Once again, please don't start the flaming, guns and grenades should have no place on either side of these demonstrations, but I would just like to understand what I saw in the video.

[moe666]

The man tried to save his friends from injury by ignoring his on danger, he is the example all police and military people should show to the public. Hope that he recoveries from his injuries and that his comrades understand his sacrifice.

[moe666]

I agree that policeman is a very brave man, but there is something I don't understand. In the video, there does not seem to be any shrapnel from this grenade. If the grenade had a "fatality radius of 5 meters", why is this brave man not dead, the video camera was not damaged, and only one other policeman was injured? Once again, please don't start the flaming, guns and grenades should have no place on either side of these demonstrations, but I would just like to understand what I saw in the video.

It is just the way things work out sometime no rhyme nor reason, luck of the draw, and a few more. Depending how close you are the shock wave alone can kill you by turning your insides to jelly

Edited February 20, 2014 by moe666

[tx22cb]

Unfortunately after seeing this article on three separate western news channels and a video HERE TV, I made comment and was accused by a TV member of spreading lies and that it was the police threw the grenade not the protesters, there is video of the incident and you can see the grenade flying through the air, hit the police shield and the attempted kicking of it away, and the boot of the policeman flying backwards towards the rear rank of police, looking at the video you can see the direction the police are facing and the direction of the incoming grenade, so I wonder if the TV Suthep supporters STILL believe that a police rank would have had to be in front of the victim and stand up turn around and throw the grenade into the police rank behind them, or finally accept that so many of the protesters (not all) are most defiantly not "peaceful protesters" as so often proclaimed????????

I also wonder if the TV member has the stones (intestinal fortitude) to apologize for his accusation of me spreading lie's? I think not,

Even Akanat/Suthep has now apologised for making exactly the same claim (that it was a police grenade) and so kudos to them. Therefore I am sure the TV member will be willing to do likewise.

If not, Name and Shame ...

[smileydude]

All of this need not happen if politicians weren't so corrupt, greedy and manipulative.

Unfortunately more will become incapacitated and lose their lives unnecessarily because the only thing politicians care about is power.

Edited February 20, 2014 by smileydude

[aussieinthailand]

Unfortunately after seeing this article on three separate western news channels and a video HERE TV, I made comment and was accused by a TV member of spreading lies and that it was the police threw the grenade not the protesters, there is video of the incident and you can see the grenade flying through the air, hit the police shield and the attempted kicking of it away, and the boot of the policeman flying backwards towards the rear rank of police, looking at the video you can see the direction the police are facing and the direction of the incoming grenade, so I wonder if the TV Suthep supporters STILL believe that a police rank would have had to be in front of the victim and stand up turn around and throw the grenade into the police rank behind them, or finally accept that so many of the protesters (not all) are most defiantly not "peaceful protesters" as so often proclaimed????????

I also wonder if the TV member has the stones (intestinal fortitude) to apologize for his accusation of me spreading lie's? I think not,

Even Akanat/Suthep has now apologised for making exactly the same claim (that it was a police grenade) and so kudos to them. Therefore I am sure the TV member will be willing to do likewise.

If not, Name and Shame ...

I love to, but can't find the video in here? not sure if it has been deleted? t

[kotsak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH7L48rxu0A

[pee paub]

I agree that policeman is a very brave man, but there is something I don't understand. In the video, there does not seem to be any shrapnel from this grenade. If the grenade had a "fatality radius of 5 meters", why is this brave man not dead, the video camera was not damaged, and only one other policeman was injured? Once again, please don't start the flaming, guns and grenades should have no place on either side of these demonstrations, but I would just like to understand what I saw in the video.

It is just the way things work out sometime no rhyme nor reason, luck of the draw, and a few more. Depending how close you are the shock wave alone can kill you by turning your insides to jelly

Well that explains nothing. His food was almost right on top of the grenade, why were his insides not "turned to jelly", let alone his foot blown off? Once again, no doubt he was a very brave man and I hope somehow he can make a full recovery, but I don't understand what I saw in that video.