Fire Survivor Crawled Through Heat to Escape Ladprao Bar
A Ladprao bar fire survivor crawled through flames and smoke to escape after a rear door opened, releasing a deadly wave of heat into the crowded corridor. He urged entertainment venue visitors to always locate emergency exits immediately u
On July 17, a fire survivor from the Ladprao beer hall gave a detailed account to investigators at Phahonyothin police station after his hospital discharge, describing his desperate escape through smoke and flames. He urged all visitors to entertainment venues to locate and memorize emergency exits upon arrival.
The survivor explained he was a regular customer who had come with three friends that evening and was seated near the bathroom by the corridor, with his back to the stage. He and his group initially did not notice any irregularities or the fire starting near the stage area. Panicked shouts about the fire prompted him and his friends to rush toward the rear exit, but many tourists were simultaneously fleeing to the same narrow corridor, creating chaos and bottlenecks that forced everyone into a single-file evacuation.
The critical moment came when the person at the front tried to open the rear door, and a massive wave of flames and intense heat suddenly surged into the building. The survivor, realizing the danger, dropped to the ground and crawled along the floor to avoid the high-rising smoke and flames, eventually escaping with his life.
He sustained first-degree burns on his arms, neck, and face, plus severe bruising to his legs from crawling forcefully across the floor during his escape. His two companions also suffered similar burn blisters and bruises.
The survivor considered himself fortunate that quick decision-making allowed him to exit rapidly and warned the public that upon entering any entertainment venue, the first priority should be to note the locations of all exit doors and emergency exit signs. Having a clear evacuation route in mind can be life-saving when an unexpected emergency occurs.
