School Director Hailed as Hero After Sacrificing Her Life to Protect Student in Hat Yai Shooting

HAT YAI - Tributes are flooding in for Mrs. Sasipatchara Sinsamosorn, the director of Patong Prathan Khiriwat School, who died after being shot while volunteering to take a student's place during a hostage incident in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province. Dr. Wiroj Yommuang, director of Hat Yai Hospital, reported that Mrs. Sasipatchara passed away at 02:00 despite doctors' intensive efforts to save her. She died from massive blood loss and loss of blood clotting function due to severe internal injuries. The incident involved an 18-year-old man who seized a firearm from a police officer, stormed the school, and opened fire. Mrs. Sasipatchara was seriously wounded, and a 14-year-old female student was also shot. The suspect later held students hostage before police surrounded the area and secured his surrender. According to Ms. Darawan Chaisuwan, deputy director of Rattaphum Wittaya School, Mrs. Sasipatchara negotiated with the gunman and asked to take the student's place. 'In that moment, with the spirit of a teacher, she stepped forward to protect her student,' Ms. Darawan said. Online users across Thailand have praised her actions, describing her as a selfless educator who sacrificed her life to protect her pupils. Mrs. Sasipatchara, who held a Master of Education degree in educational administration, had served as director of Patong Prathan Khiriwat School since 2020.