A 17-year-old young man tragically caused the accidental death of his friend while they were playing with newly acquired knives at a public park in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu.
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 24, and was reported to Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu Police Station by Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital at 7:30 pm. The victim, a teenager named Ton, suffered a severe stab wound to the neck. Despite attempts at CPR by medical personnel, Ton’s life could not be saved.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the police encountered a group of Ton’s friends gathered outside the emergency room. These friends were unaware of Ton’s fate until officers delivered the heartbreaking news. Among them, a 17-year-old named Thanate broke down in tears upon learning of the tragic incident. Thanate confessed to the officers that he had unintentionally stabbed his friend.
Other friends corroborated Thanate’s account, emphasizing that the two had been close friends who had attended the same school since their early childhood. They had never engaged in any conflicts or disputes prior to this unfortunate accident.
Thanate was taken in for questioning at the police station, where he explained that he and Ton had recently purchased new knives, of which they were quite proud. Before the incident occurred, they engaged in play with the knives, pretending to engage in a friendly fight. Regrettably, Thanate’s knife sheath slipped, resulting in a direct and unintended stab to Ton’s neck.
A neighbor informed Channel 3 that Ton had experienced a challenging life. His father had abandoned him when he was just three days old, leaving him in the care of his mother. However, his mother faced mental health issues and was unable to care for him, leading his grandparents to step in as caregivers for both him and his mother. Ton’s grandmother expressed shock and distress upon hearing of his death, revealing that she had fainted upon receiving the news. She expressed hope that Ton’s soul would find peace.
In a related incident occurring three weeks prior, a 13-year-old boy had lost his life after being accidentally stabbed by his 16-year-old friend who was showcasing a 30-centimeter sword. The cause of the stabbing bore similarities to Ton’s case, as the sword had slipped out of its sheath, piercing the victim’s chest.
