Uncle of Bhakapon asks for US visas for Thai rescuers

[webfact]

Uncle of Bhakapon asks for US visas for Thai rescuers

 

Photo : Anant Chantarasoot

 

BANGKOK: -- A relative of one of two Thai students presumed dead in a car crash in the United States applied on Thursday for entry visas for members a Thai rescue team, saying that Thais should handle the case if US authorities continued to fail to do so.

US rescue teams have been unable to reach the students’ car, which is partially submerged in a river at the base of a 150-metre cliff in California, due to weather conditions and a strong river current.

 

Ekkachai Taidecha, the uncle of Bhakapon Chairattanasongporn, 28, told reporters in front of the US Embassy that it had been almost two weeks since the accident, which saw Bhakapon and Thiwadee Saengsuriyarit, 24, go missing. Thai Consul General to Los Angeles Tanee Sangrat said this week that the bodies of the students were found in the car.

 

“If this accident happened in Thailand, Thai rescuers would be able to get the bodies within 12 hours, no matter how bad the weather was. They would not have to use a helicopter,” Ekkachai said. “It has hurt to see my sister, who is now waiting for the retrieval in the US, endure the suffering and grief every second that passes.”

 

If the US ambassador sympathised with the family’s ordeal, he should approve visas for a Thai team, Ekkachai said.

“However, I don’t think the US will approve the visa as my act is a symbolic expression regarding the US’s failure,” he said.

He added that his action was meant to force US authorities to work faster on the retrieval. “I want to ask the US ambassador if they were US citizens, would the recovery would take such a long time?” Ekkachai asked.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323423

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-10

[Briggsy]

This guy is a fool. He has no idea.

[BasalBanality]

Condolences to his loss and the bereaved families.

 

His confidence in his fellow countrymen's ability is clouded by grief.

[Just1Voice]

The U.S. has some of the world's best rescue operations, or does this idiot even realize that?  The car went over a cliff, plunged 500 meters, and was lodged between large boulders in a fast moving river.  If U.S. Authorities said they couldn't get to it safely, you can be damn sure no Thai team of rescuers was going to do it.

Another case of "We're the best at everything in the world", when the truth is, they're pretty much 2nd rate. 

 

[maxpower]

[seajae]

you would have more deaths if thais were doing it, they are simply not good enough, lack the training and know bugger all about what needs to be done, this guy needs to shut his mouth and apologize,.I can understand him being concerned but there is nothing anyone can do about the weather and river conditions, getting more people killed just to make him happy is not on, they need to wait till it can be dome safely, they are dead, speed does not change anything

 

[moe666]

Who ever is in charge will not cause the death of anyone else to retrieve a couple of bodies, be they Thai or US citizens. I understand the uncle is upset but killing more people to rescue two dead is not to bright. 

 

My best wishes to the families of the two who have died.

[nikmar]

Thai rescuers have amulets.

[snoop1130]

US Embassy offers sympathy over Thai students presumed dead

 

 

The US Embassy in Bangkok on Thursday expressed condolences to the families and friends of the two Thai students involved in a tragic accident in California.

 

In its two-sentence statement, the Embassy said: “We are closely following the situation and express our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the two Thai students involved in this tragic accident in California.”

 

The US Embassy in Bangkok had issued visas for family members of the students who have travelled to California, read the statement.

 

The embassy issued the statement after a relative of one of the two Thai students presumed killed in a car crash in the United States applied for entry visas for members of a Thai rescue team.

 

Ekkachai Taidecha, the uncle of Bhakapon Chairattanasongporn, 28, said Thai rescuers should have a chance to handle the case as US authorities had failed to retrieve the students’ bodies.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323432

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-8-10

[jonclark]

I am afraid that this poor man reason has been clouded by the emotion of his loss. 

 

Sending in a Thai rescue team to possibly die themselves would not help dilute his grief or frustration.

 

The US team would have made a calm decision based on the best possible outcome under the conditions present on the ground (not in the Thai media). Sadly recovery will need to wait.

[observer90210]

Perhaps the Thai's think that the whole world is as inefficient as they are in public services...which could be why they offered help?

[Dave67]

Easy to do if you don't mind pointlessly killing rescuers when the rescuees are dead. The US have health and safety laws that they follow

[Dave67]

What

2 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Hate to say but this is a typically Thai reaction. Unmeasured, insulting, uneducated and foolish. 

 

Even if he is grieving to say they haven't recovered the bodies because they are not Americans is ridiculous but it is an insight into how Thais think. 

It may be because nothing like a car falling into a ravine could ever happen in Thailand

[sweatalot]

4 hours ago, jonclark said:

I am afraid that this poor man reason has been clouded by the emotion of his loss. 

 

Sending in a Thai rescue team to possibly die themselves would not help dilute his grief or frustration.

 

The US team would have made a calm decision based on the best possible outcome under the conditions present on the ground (not in the Thai media). Sadly recovery will need to wait.

I am sorry for his loss.

His reason has been clouded not so much by the tragic event but by typical Thainess, probably always have been that way.

Edited August 10, 2017 by sweatalot

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that his action was meant to force US authorities to work faster on the retrieval. “I want to ask the US ambassador if they were US citizens, would the recovery would take such a long time?” Ekkachai asked.

The answer to that question is...yes. 

[metisdead]

Troll posts have been removed. 

[Thechook]

Really?  I thought the U.S has qualified professional rescue teams and state of the art equipment.   I don't think they need the expert advice and thai crews and equipment going over and taking charge of the incident.

[DepDavid]

In the land of no health and safety regulations yes a dozen Thais would just rush down in their flip flops and end up adding to the death toll. 

[wirat69]

The TAT Director is alleged to have claimed that Thai rescue teams are better trained than US Boy Scouts......

 

  

[rkidlad]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

“If this accident happened in Thailand, Thai rescuers would be able to get the bodies within 12 hours, no matter how bad the weather was

Hard to feel sympathy for a man who clearly couldn't give two s*** about the lives of the people who'd be mindlessly sent in to retrieve two bodies in a very dangerous situation. Maybe he could go in and retrieve the rescuers' bodies? 

 

Just very very selfish and inconsiderate thinking. Me, me, me. 

[colinneil]

8 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Hard to feel sympathy for a man who clearly couldn't give two s*** about the lives of the people who'd be mindlessly sent in to retrieve two bodies in a very dangerous situation. Maybe he could go in and retrieve the rescuers' bodies? 

 

Just very very selfish and inconsiderate thinking. Me, me, me. 

Spot on, but that is the norm here, me,me,me, no consideration for anyone just me.

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

submerged in a river at the base of a 150-metre cliff

 

Quote

Thai rescuers

 

<deleted>

 

Edited August 11, 2017 by Dobredin Ghusputin

[sweatalot]

1 hour ago, rkidlad said:

Hard to feel sympathy for a man who clearly couldn't give two s*** about the lives of the people who'd be mindlessly sent in to retrieve two bodies in a very dangerous situation. Maybe he could go in and retrieve the rescuers' bodies? 

 

Just very very selfish and inconsiderate thinking. Me, me, me. 

This guy is just jaundiced by  the Thai delusion of superiority over other nations - while the opposite is clearly true

despicable

Edited August 11, 2017 by sweatalot

[DrPhibes]

I know this area, lived in CA most of my life.  The car plunged down a 500ft cliff into a raging river with no shoreline and rock walls.  Car was found downstream where it had been carried tumbling in icy water (snow runoff).  Even if they survived the fall, the trip tumbling down the river would have killed them. 

Edited August 11, 2017 by DrPhibes
mispselling

[Xaos]

They slow. With gear they got. Cranes, helicopters etc. I dont get it.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[IAMHERE]

Somehow I suspect this Thai guy wouldn't grieve at all at the loss of life suffered by USA rescuers. 

[wakeupplease]

Two words Health Safety which do not exist in Thai as we see every day on the roads

 

[gummy]

On ‎10‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 3:46 PM, Briggsy said:

This guy is a fool. He has no idea.

No just a normal Thai

[trainman34014]

Sorry for the bereaved family's but the Guy has missed the point entirely.   This not a 'Rescue' mission but a 'Recovery' mission for two dead people and it would be completely pointless to risk further lives just for the sake of recovering two bodies for return when time is of no importance to the departed.

 

The reaction of many Thai's in such situations is a poor reaction !

[Jonmarleesco]

On 8/10/2017 at 3:33 PM, webfact said:

“If this accident happened in Thailand, Thai rescuers would be able to get the bodies within 12 hours,

With respect to the feelings of the relatives, that is not a serious claim.