BANGKOK — A university veterinary intern, plant worker and three security guards died Friday morning after falling into a wastewater treatment pond at a food processing plant belonging to the nation’s largest corporate conglomerate.
The bodies of three men and two women were pulled out of the treatment pond at about 11am. The incident began after Pantika Tasuwan, the Chulalongkorn University intern, fell into the pond and the other four attempted a rescue.
The employee and three security guards leaped into the pond but were overwhelmed by hydrogen sulfide and suffocated to death, Lt. Col. Phumwattana Ritthong of Bang Na police said.
The four would-be rescuers were identified as Pornchai Boonban, Charnchai Pantunakin, Lakchanok Saentaweesuk and Chatri Srisannakorn.
The Bang Na plant is owned by Charoen Pokphand Foods, a subsidiary of CP Group.
Four were pronounced dead on the scene while a fifth later died at the Bang Na 1 Hospital.
