Por's family struggles as actor loses lung

Por's family is reportedly struggling with a major setback in his condition, the removal of a lung, as fake news reports surface, saying the actor has died.

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Por's family struggle as actor loses lung

False death reports appear on fake websites

MAE MOO

The family of ailing actor Tridsadee "Por" Sahawong, whose left lung was removed last week as he battles the after-effects of dengue fever, say they are finding his plight hard to accept.

Speaking at Ramathibodi Hospital hours after the operation on Thursday, his manager, Sornmontra Pichaisornplaeng, said Por's family will feel happier when he is able to sit up and talk again.

"Before this, they took him off a ventilator, and he was able to sit up and talk. He sounded a little hoarse at times, but we would like to recapture that moment. If that image could come back again we would be much happier than we are today," he said.

The popular Channel 3 actor was admitted to hospital early last month and fell into a coma which lasted weeks. On Nov 22, doctors amputated his left foot to contain an infection as complications from the illness spread.

Early this month, his family broke the news to Por about the loss of his left foot. Reports from hospital said his condition was stable, which gave his family and fans cause for hope. However, on Thursday they took him back to the operating theatre to remove his left lung, shocking his fans.

Speaking on behalf of his medical team, Surasak Lila-udomlipi, director of Ramathibodi Hospital, said blood loss from the lining of Por's lung led to air sacs rupturing in many spots.

"The result was we could no longer treat him by keeping him on a breathing machine alone. As far as the infection in the right lung is concerned, we are still treating it with antibiotics," he said, adding a patient who stays active can still make a go of life even on one lung.

The lung setback comes as Por's family battles a rash of fake websites claiming the actor has died from the disease. The websites carry news images of a patient, face obscured, undergoing funeral rites. Accompanied by racy headlines such as "Nation in shock: Por dies!" they have been inserted under the banners of Thai language dailies including Thai Rath and Khao Sod.

The papers promptly issued alerts to readers asking them to disregard the reports. One website, "Take Me Out Thailand", claimed to show Por's close friend, veteran actress Naowarat "Jik" Yuktanun, applying make-up to the body. Outspoken actress Panadda "Poom" Wongphudee slammed the fake websites, urging those responsible to consider his family.

"No doubt you find it all amusing, but I am not laughing," she said.

She said one doctored image, supposedly showing celebrities at Por's funeral, is in fact taken from the 2013 funeral of country music singer Sayan Sanya.

Por's manager says the family has chosen to disregard the websites.

"We have no plan to take legal action," he said. "Perhaps they have nothing better to do. Of course it will affect our morale at times. But those who keep up with the news can help cover up the lies. Many people have called to ask. If they are friends, family or journalists at the hospital, they can see for themselves it's not true. We can just let it go."

Doctors say the operation was a success, but Por's condition is still critical.

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