Fourth-Grader Collapses at School, Suffers Brain Damage
A fourth-grader in Thailand collapsed at school on July 8 and suffered severe brain damage after his heart stopped for approximately 10 minutes, prompting his mother to urge all schools to strengthen emergency response protocols and staff m
A mother posted a cautionary account of her son's medical emergency at school. On the morning of July 8, 2025, at around 8:00 a.m., her fourth-grade son reported to his teacher that he had a sore throat, stomach pain, and headache during assembly. The school called the mother to pick him up, and she arrived about 20 minutes later. When she opened the door to the school clinic, she found her son unconscious, pale, and unresponsive. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital and then transferred to Siriraj Hospital.
Doctors informed the family that the boy had suffered prolonged oxygen deprivation and his heart had stopped for approximately 10 minutes, causing severe brain damage. He remains in the ICU. The medical team requested CCTV footage from the school to assess whether there were any warning signs or abnormal symptoms before he lost consciousness, which could be crucial for treatment and determining the cause. However, the family reports they have not received full cooperation in accessing this information.
The mother emphasized that she is not writing to blame anyone, but hopes her son's case will prompt all schools in Thailand to review their emergency child care standards. She stresses that sick children placed in the clinic should be closely monitored, as symptoms can rapidly escalate from "not feeling well" to "critical" in just minutes. She calls for schools to establish clear emergency response systems, trained staff, and full cooperation in sharing necessary medical information. While she cannot turn back time to help her son, she hopes his case will protect other children and urges school administrators, teachers, parents, media, and relevant agencies to push for higher safety standards in all schools.