A father of three met a tragic end in Thailand when he was electrocuted while trying to warm himself with an electric hairdryer during cold weather.
Jaising Suphasing, 39, was bedridden and used the appliance as a makeshift heater in the run-down home where he lived with his family in Nonthaburi province. According to reports, he fell asleep with the hairdryer positioned at his legs, only to suffer a fatal shock when it short-circuited.
His wife, 37-year-old Natthaya Ramsri, who works at a barbecue restaurant, came home on the afternoon of February 2 to find her husband lifeless on the floor, with severe burns covering his lower body.
Local police indicated that the accident took place in a zinc shed near a construction site. They discovered Jaising lying on his side, with extensive blisters and charred skin on his thighs, genitals, and abdomen. Emergency responders temporarily cut off the power to unplug the hairdryer before transferring him to a hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Jaising leaves behind his wife, Natthaya, and their three children, aged 17, 14, and 7. A heartbroken Natthaya recalled seeing her husband alive at 9:30 a.m. that day.
“I brought him some rice and water that morning because he could not walk,” she said. “After I left for work, I returned in the afternoon to find him already dead. He must have been electrocuted by the hairdryer.”
Natthaya explained that Jaising suffered from multiple chronic illnesses, including pulmonary edema and heart disease. He had been receiving treatment at Phra Nang Klao Hospital but had missed appointments in recent months due to his inability to walk. She noted that he often used the hairdryer to keep warm due to his health conditions.
“I’m devastated by this, but I’ve been preparing for his passing,” she shared. “He had so many health issues, and I sensed he wouldn’t be with us much longer. Even in sleep, he struggled to breathe and experienced swelling in various parts of his body.”
Chatraporn Arunbut, an officer from the provincial social welfare office, revealed that the family, facing significant hardships, will receive financial aid and housing support from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
“The family of the deceased is impoverished and going through tough times,” Arunbut said. “We will provide assistance of 3,000 baht to support the children and help them find affordable housing so they can live comfortably. Additionally, we plan to establish a child protection fund for scholarships for the deceased’s children, with assistance available three times a year.”
The cold weather in Thailand, attributed to the La Niña phenomenon, has been a factor in this unfortunate incident, with forecasts predicting continued chilly conditions as a cold front from China is expected to impact the northeastern region.
