Nurse Wiwat Laonoi, 61, with nearly four decades of experience, stated on 5/7 that she was the first to arrive at the scene after an 11-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into a 40-person pilgrimage. The accident, which occurred on 2/7 in Mukdahan province, northeast Thailand, resulted in 10 monks dead and over 20 injured.
Nurse Wiwat described the accident scene as "horrific," stating she had "never witnessed anything like it." Parichat Kochakueng, a hospital employee accompanying nurse Wiwat, also characterized the sight as terrifying, with many monks struck by the speeding vehicle and scattered along the roadside.
Wiwat immediately wanted to provide first aid to the injured monks, but some bystanders stopped her. They cited the Buddhist taboo that women are not permitted to touch the bodies of clergy.
"I responded that it was not important at that moment; to me, they were patients needing urgent care," nurse Wiwat said, adding that no rescue workers were at the scene yet, so she had to remain calm.
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Nurse Wiwat Laonoi (in a floral shirt) assists injured monks at the accident scene. *Photo: AFP*.
The experienced nurse immediately checked pulses, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and coordinated with the local hospital. She quickly moved all victims to treatment facilities.
The accident resulted in five monks dying at the scene and another five passing away at the hospital. As of last weekend, 10 individuals remained hospitalized, two of whom were in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations by Thai police revealed that the 11-year-old boy secretly took his family's pickup truck without parental permission. He drove approximately 10 km before losing control and causing the tragedy. Under Thai law, the boy will not face criminal charges, but his parents will bear responsibility.
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Nurse Wiwat Laonoi helps transport victims to treatment facilities. *Photo: Facebook/Wiwat Laonoi*.
Nurse Wiwat, who will retire in september, hopes to continue volunteering in communities lacking adequate medical care to assist people. "As a nurse, I am very proud to have been able to use my knowledge to help people," nurse Wiwat said.
Ngoc Anh (According to AFP, Reuters)
