Four men die in Phang Nga well after suspected gas exposure

Four men were found dead in a well behind a house in Moo 11, Khura subdistrict, on April 27 after officers from Kuraburi Police Station were called at about 10am to reports of multiple people unconscious at the site. The deaths in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, are being investigated as suspected asphyxiation linked to a confined space hazard, police said.

The dead were identified as Suton Kongkaew, 41, Suthat Adam, 35, Theeradol Chueasongsa, 30, and Wahab Chueasongsa, 59.

Witness accounts describe successive rescue attempts

Police said witness testimony indicated Suton was digging the well when he suddenly lost consciousness. Suthat then climbed down to help him and also collapsed shortly afterwards.

A relative, Kusuma Adam, raised the alarm. Theeradol and Wahab then entered the well one after the other in attempted rescues, but both also lost consciousness and could not get out.

Investigation focuses on oxygen loss or toxic gases

Rescue workers and local officials responded to the property, but all four men were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were later recovered from the well and taken to Kuraburi Chaiyapat Hospital for forensic examination.

Initial findings point to asphyxiation caused by low oxygen levels or toxic gases inside the confined space, police said. Pol Lt Sarawut Phumisurarat is leading the investigation after the case was reported to Phang Nga Provincial Police.

Phang Nga Governor Pairat Petchyuan also ordered the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to coordinate the emergency response, with multiple rescue units deployed for the recovery operation. Officials warned that oxygen can drop quickly and hazardous gases can build up unnoticed in poorly ventilated spaces.

Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/four-men-die-in-well-after-suspected-gas-exposure-100035.php