A 17-year-old student who died Saturday after an overnight, seaside rub nong or hazing ritual did not die from physical injury, according to preliminary autopsy reports.
The death of the teen boy, whose dead body was dropped off at a Hua Hin hospital by his classmates following a beachside hazing ritual, has prompted an investigation into the head of his Pathum Thani province college for possible negligence.
“He had some minor wounds, bruises and scratches but they were not fatal,” said police Maj. Gen. Pornchai Suteerakune of the Institute of Forensic Medicine yesterday.
The teen had been diagnosed years prior with leukemia, and it’s unclear if that played a factor in his death. During the weekend he was on a trip with classmates to Prachuap Khiri Khan province with fellow freshmen and seniors from Pathumthani Technical College.
Preliminary reports suggest the teen died of “respiratory and blood-circulation failure,” The Nation reported.
Following the incident, the college’s director, Kwanchai Panich-karn will be investigated by the Office of Vocational Education Commission for negligence in preventing the initiation trip.
“All off-campus activities, whether held by students or teachers, must receive prior approval from the college’s executive and have the consent of parents,” commission secretary general Chaiprug Sereerak said.
According to Kwanchai, who spoke at a press conference, 54 students voluntarily joined the trip and participated in activities squat jumps. The college director said the student had been doing squat jumps when he collapsed.
The students who dropped him off at the hospital told staff there he had “drowned,” and a witness said she saw senior students kicking freshmen into the water.
The college will give THB40,000 to the parents.
Thailand’s top education official said that even if the students organized the trip, the ultimate responsibility still lies with Kwanchai.
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Students dump dead freshman at hospital after seaside hazing
