Thai civic worker dives to save drowning man from 5m pond

2026-01-27 - 03:34

UDON THANI — Residents have praised a brave civic worker who leapt into a five-metre-deep pond to rescue a drowning man, whose life was later saved after emergency crews successfully revived his pulse. The incident happened on 26 January 2026 at 15.30, when the 1669 emergency call centre in Udon Thani province received a report of a man drowning in a pond at a school in Ban Kao Noi, within Nong Bua municipality in Muang district. Rescue workers from Udon Thani Hospital and volunteers from the Songsermtham Foundation rushed to the scene. By the time they arrived, villagers had pulled the man, believed to be aged between 40 and 50, from the water. He was unconscious, not breathing and had no pulse. Paramedics immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After continuous efforts, the man’s pulse returned. He was then rushed to Udon Thani Hospital, where doctors said he remained in a coma but still had vital signs and was under close medical supervision. The rescuer, identified as Santi Rungreang, 48, also known locally as “Pi Teng”, is an employee of Nong Bua subdistrict municipality. He said he had been at his wife’s home in Ban Kao Noi and was about to take a shower when he heard villagers shouting that someone was drowning. “I ran to look and saw a man struggling in the water,” Santi said. “I didn’t hesitate. I jumped straight in.” He said a younger man had tried to help by extending a long bamboo pole, but the victim failed to grasp it and sank. Santi dived down about four to five metres, following the pole, until he found the man’s body and pulled him up. Villagers then helped haul them both to the edge of the pond. “I didn’t think about the danger. I just wanted him to survive,” he said, adding that he prayed to sacred spirits in the area while rescue workers continued CPR. “I’m glad I could help save a life.” Villagers said they had earlier seen the man walking near the pond but had not been concerned. Later, they heard a sound like someone entering the water and shouted a warning that the pond was deep and not meant for swimming. The man appeared to try to swim back but suddenly sank, prompting calls for help before Santi made the rescue.