Lia Xiaochang, 22, was rushed to Krabi Hospital last Saturday after friends found her unconscious in the water while snorkelling at the popular tourist day-trip destination Koh Gai (Chicken Island), near Poda Island.
Despite efforts to revive Ms Lia, she remains unconscious at Krabi Hospital. (See story here.)
“Doctor and nurses are monitoring her closely,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class Weerawut Padam of the Royal Thai Navy emergency rescue team based at Koh Lanta Noi which was called to rushMs Lia to hospital.
“She is alive and she seems to be partially aware, as she cries when her family members speak to her, but otherwise she remains unresponsive to any attempts to bring her back to consciousness,” he said.
CPO Weerawut noted that Ms Lia might have suffered partial brain damage. “It was more than 10 minutes before her friends discovered that she was unconscious face-down in the water,” he said.
Ms Lia’s family have arrived in Krabi to oversee her treatment and her possible return to China, CPO Weerayut said.
“They are discussing with doctors about whether or not to transfer her to a hospital in China,” he explained.
“They said it would be better if she received treatment in her home country, but they are frightened that taking her home might cause more damage to her current condition,” he said.