Student Suffers Brain Bleeding After Ping Pong Paddle Attack
A Grade 9 student in southern Thailand underwent brain surgery after being struck with a ping pong paddle by a classmate during an elective class on June 30, prompting an assault complaint and questions about school safety protocols.
On July 10, a social media user shared the story of a Grade 9 student from a southern Thailand school who was hit on the head with a ping pong paddle during class, later requiring surgery for bleeding above and below the brain membrane combined with brain swelling. This sparked criticism about school safety measures.
The victim's sister told news outlets that the incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. on June 30 during an elective ping pong class. After some joking with the classmate, the other student struck the victim's head with a paddle, causing serious injury. A teacher took the victim to a health clinic and called the family around 11:00 a.m., reporting only a sports accident with a split wound on the head and bleeding. Health workers applied ice and sent him back to school, where he returned to afternoon classes as he seemed fine at the time.
However, the medical record merely stated "sports accident," raising the family's suspicion that the teacher had not fully explained the severity to health staff, potentially leading to underestimation of the injury and inadequate initial treatment.
The family later took him to a hospital where doctors discovered bleeding above and below the brain membrane, brain swelling, and a scraped wound on the right forehead. He underwent surgery. Though his condition is now stable and he can walk, speak, and smile more, the family worries about long-term brain effects.
The family has filed an assault complaint with local police, with further questioning scheduled for July 11. The school acknowledged the surgery was needed and scheduled a meeting with parents for July 14 to discuss findings and next steps. School administrators and teachers visited the hospital one day after the incident and gave 2,000 baht, but the family felt the support was insufficient.
The accused student's family visited on July 4, apologized, and promised to return July 6 but never came, with no further contact or financial assistance. The victim's family bears all medical costs themselves as the school's accident insurance cannot be claimed—this is classified as assault, not a typical accident. The family also worries about long-term brain-related treatment needs.
