Column: Bangkok body snatchers…one is dead, the other is his rice
The metropolis of Bangkok, the city that got under my skin after ten years - what a beautiful Anglicism, if I do say so myself - has one thing in common with the Netherlands: fielus.
And because there are so many fielus, there are no emergency ambulances. As a hospital, why would you spend a ton on an ambulance, when such a thing is only stuck in traffic? yes right?
Still an unpleasant situation for the motorcyclist who, after ignoring the red traffic light, is shoveled by a cement truck and with a dented chest, skull fracture and two broken legs lies gasping for breath between the lotus flowers along the side of the road.
That's when Bangkok's Body Snatchers hit the accelerator.
The boys and girls of these 2 organizations, “Ruam Katanyu” and “Por Teck Tung” have jumped into the niche market of “recovering corpses and wounded”. And with success.
With minivans converted into ambulances, equipped with heart monitors and other items found in an average ambulance, the drivers tear through the traffic at breath-taking speeds, ignoring all traffic rules, to save what can be saved and pick up the victim to then transport it to a mortuary, if it concerns a deceased person, or to the hospital.
In a country like the Netherlands, the deceased is first transported to a hospital anyway, but Thais take the word "hospital", rightly in my opinion, literally; a hospital is for the sick or still living, the mortuary is for those who are 'mort', ie dead. There is no fuss about that here…
Those guys and girls from the Body Snatchers do all this for free? you, attentive reader, are no doubt wondering.
Benjamin Franklin once said: 'There is no such thing as a free lunch'. Or was it Bill Gates? Does not matter. The answer to that question is an emphatic “NO”.
Mortuaries pay 1000 baht (25 euros) per corpse, which must be paid later by next of kin. Hospitals pay the same amount and lose income from the medical treatment of the unfortunate motorcyclist. (The dent of a chest here costs 10.000 baht).
The two organizations were once rival groups, who when they arrived at the same place at the same time to collect a body, literally put a knife to each other's throats, in order to be the first to take care of the dead or dead body.
Those times are over. “Ruam Katanyu” does Bangkok North and “Por Teck Tung” does Bangkok South. Everyone happy…
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@cor,
“Everyone happy”, but also “Happy ending”?
That's a good question. In some cases I think so.
Hello Kor,
To be honest, I would be concerned that they would force me to take me to the hospital after an accident in Bangkok.
A Messerchmitt from my part, as long as I get there on time and the repair can be carried out in time
Louise
@Cor
You have a sense of humor Cor! Nicely written piece. Only I had to read your word "fielus" a few times before the coin fell with me. At first I thought it was some kind of STD. But that was probably your intention, wasn't it?! LOL!
@pujai,
It's funny that you make that link, because when I wrote the piece I didn't have that in mind at all. Well now 😉
@Frank
Ten years. Of course I had heard of traffic jams (rot tit). Fielus is a new one for me…
For those who want to know more about this, this link may be of interest: http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/StickmanBangkokWeeklyColumn2011/Thailand-Foreign-Paramedics.htm
Correct Cor. Previously, he regularly hinted about leaving Thailand and selling his site. He hasn't reported anything about it in recent months. Reading between the lines, I understand that his marriage has broken down. Perhaps that is why he had had it with Thailand for a while. Hopefully he will continue because I enjoy reading his columns.
Frank, not long enough to be taken away in one of the Ruam Katanyu mobiles.
lol Lesson learned again; didn't know that term.
Dutch ambulances are not allowed to transport the deceased, which is why they drive to a hospital, in the worst case someone is pronounced dead on arrival. The transportation of corpses is regulated by law in NL.
1000 baht to pick up corpses as quickly as possible with a converted bus and deliver them. I don't think it's expensive because how many customers do they get per day?
There is also a lot of auxiliary police or disaster teams in Bkk, I respect those people and then they can earn something from me.
After the big fire in the nightclub in Bkk some years ago (Venicia or something) there were many farang corpses where the wallet was stolen. I still don't know who did that but I think that's the pinnacle.
Confirmation from an acquaintance of mine who drives the rescue car, first search and take it off in the event of an accident and then charge it.
This is also a good side income.
So don't bring too much money and leave gold chains at home.