Phnom penh: Tragic! A young Thai chef was found dead on the side of the road in Cambodia after a hospital refused to treat him. His family is grieving and waiting to take his body home.
According to Thai News Agency, the Facebook page "Officials of the Coordinating Center for Assistance to Thais Abroad" posted a search for relatives of Mr. Methachan, a resident of Phrom Khiri District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The post stated that his younger sibling is currently sick, suffering from stomach pain, and lying on the street, unable to care for himself. However, a hospital in a neighboring country refused treatment because Mr. Methachan had no money or identification. In addition to providing Mr. Methachan's name and address, officials also contacted Mr. Methachan via Line to inquire about his details.
The page soon posted a photo of Mr. Methachan, along with the caption, "My little brother has passed away. I express my deepest condolences. I've been struggling for my little brother since morning. I've tried to contact his relatives and do everything I can to help him return to Thailand. But I can't bring him back alive. I'll coordinate with the commander of the Burapha Task Force in Sa Kaeo Province to take him back to Thailand. I'll then coordinate with him to pass him on to his relatives."
Another post stated, "These are the two most heartbreaking images. The first image is me talking on Line with my younger sister and promising her that I would take her back to Thailand. I also had my team coordinate with the hospital so that the Cambodian hospital could transfer her according to humanitarian principles. I understand that she had no money and no documentation, and I don't know if she entered legally. But in reality, if someone is seriously ill, with severe stomach pain, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing, should they be helped according to humanitarian principles? Should we help them according to humanitarian principles as all human beings on the same planet?"
As for the second picture, the boy was so sick he could barely stand. I told him to go to the border checkpoint, meet with Cambodian officials, and ask for permission to return to Thailand. As you can see in the picture, I felt very depressed. The boy was so sick he could barely stand. He was still walking, wearing only a pair of pants, to ask to return to Thailand. That was the last bit of my willpower to persevere, to go and ask to return to Thailand. But the Cambodian officials refused him because he had no documents, and he was not allowed to return. I understand that he didn't have any documents with him, but as I said, according to humanitarian principles and for fellow human beings, we should have made some exceptions. I would like to express my deepest condolences and apologize to the boy's family that I couldn't bring him back to Thailand with his life still breathing."
Meanwhile, a team from the Coordinating Center for Assistance to Thais Abroad arrived at the Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, to receive the body of Mr. Methachan, or "Min," at the Thai border checkpoint since 8 a.m. On the Thai side, officials from the Aranyaprathet Immigration and Customs checkpoint are coordinating with Cambodian authorities to bring the body back into the country. The center's team recently told reporters that Min's body cannot be returned as Cambodian officials are conducting a thorough forensic examination, particularly fingerprints and personal history, to confirm his identity.
Villagers who heard the news gathered at the border checkpoint to follow the return of Min's body to his hometown. Officials from the Burapha Force and local security agencies were deployed to maintain order around the checkpoint. It is expected that after the identity verification process is complete, Cambodian authorities will hand over Min's body to Thai officials tonight or the following day.
As for Chef Min, it's been learned that after graduating, she got a passport and went to work as a chef on a ship, traveling with the ship to various countries. Each contract lasted approximately nine months, with good pay and a high salary. She mostly contacted her family by leaving messages on Facebook chat, as her work schedule didn't coincide with Thailand's. She recently lost contact, but her family assumed she was still working on the ship, as her last contact said she was still working as a chef. This leaves it unclear why she ended up returning to wander around Cambodia.
Mr. Nikorndej Plangkur, Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that regarding reports that a Cambodian hospital had refused treatment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Siem Reap to expedite the investigation with the local Cambodian hospital allegedly accused of refusing treatment. The Royal Thai Consulate-General is coordinating with the Cambodian police to prepare a funeral report and issue a death certificate for the deceased.