Police Officer Saves Drowning Child in Swift Water Rescue
A police sergeant jumped fully clothed into deep water near Sukhothai's Wat Nam Rueng Temple to rescue a 12-year-old special needs child who panicked and began drowning on September 7.
Praised for his quick thinking, a police officer jumped into the water fully uniformed to rescue a special needs child who was about to drown.
On September 8, 2569, reporters met with Police Senior Sergeant Sirichai Koitmee and Police Sergeant Chanatip Uambut, group commander of Tha Chanuon Station, after the two officers responded to a drowning emergency involving a special needs child near the bridge beside Wat Nam Rueng Temple in Moo 12, Tha Chanuon Subdistrict, Khong Krai District, Sukhothai Province.
The incident occurred on September 7 while the officers were conducting vehicle patrols and received a report of a child playing in the water near the bridge, raising concerns of a potential drowning. They immediately rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, they found a 12-year-old boy with special needs who could not speak, playing naked at the water's edge. The officers called for him to come out of the water, but the child became startled when he saw the police and suddenly bolted toward deeper water. Unable to stay afloat or swim, the child began to drown. Police Sergeant Chanatip quickly removed his body armor and belt, then jumped into the water fully uniformed to rescue the child, pulling him to safety just in time.
When questioned, the child's parents explained they were visiting relatives near Wat Nam Rueng Temple and were not from the area. With no one home to supervise, the boy had wandered out to play in the water. Fortunately, a bystander spotted the child and alerted police, enabling them to respond promptly and save his life.
