Englishman rescued after fall in open sewer hole
An unnamed Englishman had to be rescued after falling into an open sewer hole in northern Metropolitan Bangkok this week. He had sunk to his chest in the sewage sludge at a depth of three meters, where rescuers fished him out. The rescue did result in some cuts and bruises, for which he was treated at a local hospital.
The hapless businessman left a nearby restaurant at XNUMX that night, where he had eaten with some friends, and fell into the hole, which was not provided with any safety measure. The friends sought help from local residents, who then alerted the police.
The victim told rescue personnel that he will be filing a legal complaint against local authorities for not covering the manhole or posting a warning.
In July 2014, there was a similar case in the Din Daeng district of Bangkok. A Thai man in an open manhole and drowned. That manhole was also open and not shielded.
Source: Khaosod English
Postscript Gringo:
Of course an open manhole must be covered or at least provided with a warning. Still, when I look at the photo, the word drunk comes to mind!
When reading this news item, I was reminded of an “occupational accident” that I experienced a long time ago in the Netherlands. The company used a basin sunk into the ground for testing submersible pumps. There was a break-in at night, the alarm went off, and when the security service arrived, they found the burglar, who had fallen into the basin full of water.
I don't remember what happened to the burglar himself, but he did file a complaint with the municipality for splashing in the water, which was indeed not demarcated. The company was fined significantly for failing to implement proper safety measures!
Now the manhole looks lit up, but I can imagine that when it is dark and you are walking down the street talking to others, you do not have your attention on the road.
In the second case, of course, there is a high degree of insanity on the part of the legislator.
AC/Phil. I walked across the street and on the sidewalk and stepped on an unlit part into a pit of 30x30cm that was full of rubbish and could not be seen beforehand. I complained about this with the answer that it is better not to walk down the street at night. The fact that such a well in the sidewalk should also have a lid was dismissed.
In addition to culpable lack of attention to safety (Municipality of Bangkok should receive / pay compensation due to culpable negligence).
In addition, yet another proof why Bangkok still regularly floods with a bit of heavy rain: the man was standing up to chest height (= approx. 1,5 m!!) in sewage sludge. There is therefore no question of any maintenance in the form of regular vacuuming. Apparently, during the last maintenance some time ago, they forgot to replace the grille.
Here in my Bangkapi district all sidewalks are a total mess, when I walk somewhere at night I always have a flashlight with me to see where I'm walking, tripping over raised tree roots garbage tgels being pushed up by tree roots bums who sleep on the footpath for a long time with all their belongings, broken stone rubble etc advertising signs where only the wooden frame is still there steel wire that is attached to it pokes through your jeans,
And gang it is, and then the tight mentality of the residents flicker everything away. behind the shopping mall the NINE is a klong, you can almost walk on the water, sooooo dirty and stink 3 hours against the wind.etc etc and I can go on like this for a while.
Unfortunately for that Englishman, the answer will be given if you had not gone to Thailand, this would not have taken place. I also know 1, but it cannot be placed here.
Just as I point out to new colleagues, students and trainees at work to watch out for sewer covers and gratings of wells, I always walk and drive around them in TH!!!
Good advice indeed!
Even if a lid lights up, just walk next to it or drive around it!
Even with lid and all, some have collapsed.