PHATTHALUNG — A horrific workplace accident at a college construction site left one painter dead and another critically injured on Saturday morning after their crane basket detached and plunged 26 meters to the ground. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. at the site in Khuan Maprao sub-district, Muang district, where the two workers had been hoisted to paint the exterior of the building.

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According to Pol Lt Col Jamlong Kongsawat of Muang Phatthalung Police Station, the metal basket—suspended by a crane—suddenly broke free from its mounting, sending both men crashing to the concrete below. Emergency responders from Piyaruk Hospital arrived to find 36-year-old Thawatchai Rattanapong dead at the scene, his body trapped in the twisted wreckage of the basket with a fractured right leg. Nearby, his colleague, Chutidet Thongnak, 43, lay with two broken legs and a crushed left arm. He was rushed to Phatthalung Hospital in serious condition.

Overloaded Equipment Blamed

Eyewitness Praphan Detchsuk, 50, a tiler working nearby, told investigators that the crane operator had welded a makeshift steel frame to lift the basket to the fifth floor. However, the combined weight of the two painters and the basket itself allegedly exceeded the structure’s capacity, causing the attachment point to fail catastrophically.

⏰️ 18.00.น p.m 01.08.2025 #เขาอกทะลุ #phatthalung #พัทลุง pic.twitter.com/xmQb7HEfbx

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Police are now examining whether safety protocols were followed, including load limits and welding standards. Authorities confirmed they will summon all involved parties, including the crane operator and construction supervisors, for questioning to determine potential negligence.

Ongoing Safety Concerns

The fatal plunge highlights persistent risks in Thailand’s construction industry, where lax enforcement of safety regulations has led to repeated accidents. Local labor advocates have called for stricter oversight, particularly for temporary rigging and elevated work platforms.

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As investigations continue, the deceased worker’s family has been notified, while Chutidet remains hospitalized. The college’s construction project has been temporarily halted pending a full safety review.

-Thailand News (TN)