Kasetsart freshman on the mend

The health update came as the Education Ministry emphasised rules to regulate freshmen orientation activities at all universities.

Chon Buri Hospital director Dr Chutidej Tab-ongkharak said yesterday that Chokchai Thongnuakhao, a 19-year-old freshman from the International Maritime College’s Sri Racha campus, would be moved from intensive care in about a week, provided he did not contract another lung infection that prevented him from breathing without a respirator.

Chutidej said Chokchai was conscious, his lung infection had improved, oxygen levels in his blood were now normal and he had suffered minor brain injuries.

Antibiotics used on the student were curing the lung infection, he said.

“Even though his condition is not critical anymore, he still has to stay in the ICU for at least one week to make sure there will be no further infection and he can breathe by himself,” the director said.

The freshman’s father, Amporn Thongnuakhao, said he was still concerned about his son’s condition and the chance he could contract a fatal brain infection.

“I worry that my boy will suffer the same fate of Big D2B [the late singer Apichet Kittikorncharoen], who died from a brain infection from nearly drowning in dirty water. Moreover, the doctor did not promise me that my son would recover and we have to monitor his condition,” Amporn said.

Chutidej said Chokchai had been brought to the hospital unconscious and suffering respiratory failure with bacterial infections in both lungs.

Meanwhile, Education Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan ordered the Office of the Higher Education Commission to investigate the incident and review freshmen orientation activities on a national level.

“If everyone agrees that the freshmen orientation activities should continue, we will have to draft specific rules for the activities and make sure that the safety of students comes first,” Dapong said.

Vice Admiral Nirut Hongprasit, Faculty of International Maritime Studies dean, stated in the press conference at Kasetsart University yesterday that this was just accident that no one wants to happen and this issue went viral on the social media because of some students, who disagree with the practices.