23-04-2025
Wildlife ranger drowns trying to retrieve British tourist's phone after he dropped it into underground stream in Thailand
A wildlife ranger drowned while trying to retrieve a British tourist's phone after he dropped it into an underground stream in Thailand.
Paisan Wanphet, 43, plunged into the cold waters to retrieve the gadget when it slipped from the tourist's hand as they trekked through the Tham Sao Hin cave.
He donned safety gear and dived into the stream in total the darkness to search for the smartphone. However, the father-of-two was said to have suffered leg cramps while swimming and was swept away by the fast-flowing currents.
As the situation escalated, around 120 tourists were guided out of the cave by fellow rangers.
Rescue teams arrived at the tourist spot in Kanchanaburi on April 15, after the Thai worker failed to resurface.
They searched the swirling depths for several hours before finding his body wedged between rocks 20ft underwater at 10pm local time.
Footage shows emergency service personnel in life vests carrying Paisan's body out of the cave as the water roared around them.
Chutidet Kamanonchanut, Director of the Conservation Area Management, said: 'At around 9pm, divers located Mr Paisarn's body trapped in a rock crevice deep in the Sao Hin Cave.
Rescue teams searched the swirling depths for several hours before finding his body wedged between rocks 20ft underwater at 9pm local time
'Due to the darkness, heavy rain, and the steep terrain leading out of the cave, it was extremely difficult for the rescue team to retrieve the body.
'They were finally able to remove it at around 2:30am on April 16, before transferring it to Thong Pha Phum Hospital.
'His family were notified and they raised no objections about the cause of death.'
Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, extended his condolences to the ranger's family.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will provide £13,000 of financial assistance to Paisan's relatives following the tragic incident.
The Tham Sao Hin cave and the Tham Nok Nang Aen cave in the same national park have been closed following the incident.
Authorities said forecast heavy rains had likely raised the water levels inside, sparking fears of flash floods.
Tham Sao Hin is a prominent limestone cave within the Lam Khlong Ngu National Park in Kanchanaburi.
It is known for its towering 200ft limestone column - said to be among the tallest in the world - and other geologic formations inside the cavern.
However, conditions in the cave can become extremely dangerous during the rainy season from April to October when heavy downpours fill the caverns and make the rock surfaces slippery.
