The boy, 7-year-old Kietmondej Traiyuang, was unconscious and unresponsive when he was pulled from the water on Sunday, prompting lifeguards to perform CPR until the boy’s pulse returned and he began breathing unassisted, though still unconscious.
“He remains unconscious and is under care at the paediatric ward of Vachira Phuket Hospital,” Nai Harn chief lifeguard Jula Nontree told The Phuket News today (Aug 16).
His parents are watching over him, Mr Jula added.
Mr Jula could not confirm whether the boy’s condition could be medically called a coma. However, he said that young Kietmondej’s breathing was being mechanically assisted with a ventilator.
Staff at Vachira hospital have declined to reveal details about the boy’s condition.
The incident on Sunday prompted lifeguards to remind for parents to keep an eye on their children at the beach after several child drowning incidents have occurred over the years at the same lagoon. (See story here.)