A Myanmar violinist who had been missing for more than 10 days was finally found in a Bangkok hospital on Monday, where is has been treated for a broken arm.
Nyein Chan Oo, 39, went missing on Aug. 2 after leaving the apartment where he and his wife were staying while on holiday. When he did not return, his friends and family in Myanmar launched a campaign to collect information that might help lead to his whereabouts.
On Aug. 6, Nyein Chan Oo’s family posted a screenshot of CCTV footage showing him wearing an Elvis Presley t-shirt and jeans at the Huai Khwang subway station on the evening of Aug. 2. The page asked the public to share information with Bangkok police and with the Myanmar embassy.
“We pray that Thai police can create another miracle to bring him home safely,” the post said, perhaps referring to the rescue of the 13 members of the Wild Boars football team from a cave in Mae Sai, northern Thailand, last month.
On Aug. 3, an unidentified man was picked up by police after he was reported to have been causing a commotion at Wat Thepleela, a large Buddhist temple about 10 kilometers away from the subway station where Nyein Chan Oo was last seen. He was brought to a police station, where he refused food. Two days later, he was brought to Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital.
A nurse said Nyein Chan Oo was conscious but dazed when he arrived at the hospital, and he would not comply with instructions from staff. He was found with bruising on his upper right arm, which was later found to be broken and fitted with a splint. The hospital said he would need a month to recover.
His family finally located him at the hospital on Aug. 13.
Thai tourist police said it was unlikely Nyein Chan Oo was assaulted and are looking into whether drug or alcohol abuse contributed to his condition. His relatives reported that he takes medication for a lung disease, and police are working to determine whether that had an intoxicating effect on him.
Nyein Chan Oo is a relatively well-known violinist in Myanmar, and he is reportedly the son of a local official.
He will remain in Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital until he is ready to be sent back to Myanmar.
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