Kasetsart accident: Student regaining consciousness, condition improving (Updated)
Chonburi Hospital doctors say the 19-year-old student who nearly drowned last week during what was described as a training activity has regained consciousness and can now breathe and sit up on his own.
Chonburi Hospital doctors say the 19-year-old student who nearly drowned last week during what was described as a training activity has regained consciousness and can now breathe and sit up on his own.
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Noon update
Thai PBS reports that doctors have been able to remove the respirator and Mr Chokchai is breathing on his own. Oxygen levels in his blood are almost normal. He can sit up and is able to recognise family members. Doctors say they will continue to monitor his progress before taking him out of the intensive care unit.
Wednesday morning update
Here is an update from Dumrongkiat Mala on the condition of 19-year-old Kasetsart student Chokchai Thongnuakhao who nearly drowned last week during what was described as a training activity in a campus pond.
Kasetsart accident: Student regaining consciousness, still critical
Chutidej Prab-ongrak, head of Chon Buri Hospital said Monday Mr Chokchai had regained consciousness after being treated for a lung infection in the intensive care unit for four days.
He remains in intensive care in a critical but stable condition, he added.
Dr Chutidej said the patient was responding to instructions by raising his hand, suggesting he has not suffered from brain damage. He was earlier attached to a respirator to help him breathe.
Doctors have been closely monitoring Mr Chokchai and administered antibiotics to treat the lung infection, said Dr Chutidej.
Early Monday afternoon update
Despite the explanation from Kasetsart officials, the controversy is not quite over yet. PPTV has just posted photos of dead fish in the pond, indicating the water was not clean.
Morning story
Kasetsart denies 'hazing' put student in coma
Dumrongkiat Mala
Kasetsart University (KU) has denied hazing activities have caused one of its freshmen to lapse into a coma at a hospital.
The university has been ordered to launch a probe into the incident. The Facebook posts that started the story of a hazing incident had been taken down as of early Monday.
Korchoke Chantawarangul, acting deputy rector of KU's Si Racha campus in Chon Buri, said Sunday the 19-year-old male first-year student swam in the campus pond during a physical training session which was part of a study course at the university's International Maritime College. The incident did not take place during a hazing ceremony as claimed in social media.
Mr Korchoke also denied the pond was for wastewater treatment. It was in fact dug to collect rainwater for the college's training, he said, adding students have used it regularly over the years.
Photo from Facebook account of Kasetsart University lecturer Weerachai Phutdhawong shows the pond, which the school says is a rainwater collection, not wastewater.
The activity was also overseen by professors and senior students as it was attended by about 100 other freshmen. The students are required to undergo physical training in preparation for marine operations during their third and fourth years in the college, he added.
Mr Korchoke's comments came after was rushed to Laem Chabang Hospital and later referred to an intensive care unit at Chon Buri Hospital with a lung infection on Sept 8. The incident was "reported" in social media alleging the freshman was told by senior students to dip into a two-metre-deep wastewater treatment pond as part of hazing activities the same day.
The social media quoted "one of Mr Chokchai's relatives" but the person's name was not given. The quoted person allegedly said Mr Chokchai struggled to swim and started to sink.
The "relative" said it "reportedly" took about two minutes to get Mr Chokchai out of the pond.
The post that started the social media outrage was no longer available late Sunday on the Facebook page of "Nan Suratchawadee", who is self-described on the page as a model based in Hua Hin.
Amporn Thongnuakhao, 54, Mr Chokchai's father, travelled on Sunday from Phatthalung to visit his son at the hospital.
Mr Amporn said doctors told him his son was gradually recovering but the recovery will take some time.
Mr Korchoke said university executives and senior students regretted the accident and the university will help Mr Chokchai's family to pay for his medical expenses. He added the university would review its training courses.
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