Man Dies in Khao Yai Forest Searching for Rare Wood

A 64-year-old poacher named Noo Daeng died in the depths of Khao Yai National Forest on July 14, 2569, after collapsing from exhaustion and a chronic illness while searching for aniewood, an extremely rare and valuable hardwood that can fetch hundreds of thousands of baht per kilogram. Five men, including Noo Daeng, illegally entered the protected forest in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province on July 12, trekking more than 20 kilometers into the wilderness. According to his brother Prasert, the group had been hiking for more than six days without finding any wood when Noo Daeng suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed. Despite attempts at CPR, he could not be revived. In the darkness and without phone signal deep in the forest, the remaining hunters were forced to wait until dawn and then spent three full nights carrying the body across steep terrain and dense wet forest. Once they reached a location with cell reception on July 16, they called for help. Rescue teams from the Khao Yai National Forest protection unit, emergency responders from Sawang Bamphen Tham Foundation, and volunteer rescue units worked through heavy rain to recover the body and bring it down safely. The deceased's wife, Pranorm, 57, described the ordeal with tears, explaining how the hunters managed to carry the body to the mountain base but were too exhausted to continue, requiring professional rescue teams to complete the retrieval. An autopsy was conducted at Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital, and the body was released to the family for a merit-making ceremony at Non Soat Temple.