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Topics: News, World News, Thailand
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: News, World News, Thailand
An airport worker was crushed to death by a lift as passengers looked on in horror.
Mechanic Wisatrat Tangsoh, 22, was working at the bottom of the shaft when the two-tonne glass cabin landed on top of him yesterday afternoon (August 13).
Shocked passengers pushing their suitcases on trolleys heard the cries of pain as frantic staff secured the area in the departures terminal of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Colleagues from Asian Elevator Co. Ltd., rushed over and found Wisatrat's body on the concrete base of the lift shaft.
He had reportedly been trying to retrieve a wrench from the base when the lift began slowly descending onto him - where he is believed to have faced his final few moments unable to escape in time and those above unable to stop the lift.
Medics arrived and the worker was pronounced dead at the scene.
He had sadly suffered a catastrophic head injury from the force of the elevator.
The area was cordoned off from the public and Wisatrat's body was transferred to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute for a post-mortem examination.
However, it was alleged by the airport that he 'did not follow safety procedures' while working on the elevator.
A statement issued by Suvarnabhumi International Airport following Wisatrat's untimely death read: "From the preliminary investigation, it was found that the deceased did not follow safety procedures, which resulted in the accident causing his death.
"Airports of Thailand (AOT) have coordinated with medics and police to inspect the scene with forensics experts. AOT has temporarily blcoked off the area.
"We would like to confirm that the accident was not caused by a malfunction of the elevator in the area.
"The AOT would like to express its condolences to the family of the deceased. "We will fully cooperate in the investigation to find the cause of the accident."
Yesterday's accident follows another ordeal that happened at a different Bangkok airport last year.
In July 2023, a 57-year-old woman's leg ended up having to be amputated after she got caught up in a moving walkway at Don Mueang International Airport.
She was transported to a nearby hospital after the ordeal where the lower part of one of her legs had to be surgically removed.
Karant, the airport's director, said that AOT would cover the woman's medical costs and provide compensation, ABC reports.
Karant also said that an investigation into the cause of the incident was undergoing, however, he defended the airport's maintenance and safety checks.