Phuket cabby faces charges after blocking ambulance, resulting in patient's death
A patient died before reaching medical care after the ambulance he was in was delayed. PHOTO: THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
PHUKET - Phuket police have filed charges against a local taxi driver following the circulation of a viral video showing an ambulance being obstructed in the Kathu district.
The video, which spread widely across social media platforms on April 29 , sparked public outrage.
According to the Kamala Subdistrict Administrative Organisation Rescue Centre, a patient died before reaching medical care after the ambulance he was in was delayed.
The centre posted a video clip showing a taxi driver refusing to give way to the ambulance, despite its siren and emergency lights being activated.
The incident occurred on Kamala-Patong Road in Phuket's Kathu district. The taxi was allegedly driving in the middle lane and refused to switch lanes for several minutes, even as the ambulance approached with lights flashing and siren blaring.
The patient, a 77-year-old man with a history of heart disease, had collapsed earlier in a durian orchard in Kamala, a town on the west coast of Phuket .
After being contacted by the man's family, the rescue centre coordinated an emergency transfer to Patong Hospital.
The rescue centre said the man's daughter, who is a nurse, performed continuous CPR throughout the journey.
However, the delay caused by the taxi blocking the ambulance en route to the hospital prevented timely treatment, and the patient was later pronounced dead.
Following the incident, Patong Hospital and local police reviewed CCTV and dashboard camera footage.
Patong Police Station has since contacted the taxi driver and filed two charges: obstructing an emergency vehicle and violating the rights of a patient. Legal proceedings are now underway. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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