Woman dies in burning Thai home trying to rescue trapped dogs

A retired university lecturer died as she tried to save the lives of seven dogs trapped inside her burning house in Bang Plama district of Suphanburi province yesterday.

A neighbour told police investigator that Ms Fongsawat Wongphan, 77, was seen running out of her burning old teak-wood house located by the Thachin river shouting for help yesterday morning.

As her neighbours rushed to her burning home to help her put out the fire, they didn’t see the retired teacher, known as Khru Fongchan, a retired lecturer of Rajabhat University Phetburi Campus.

Firemen arrived in five water trucks but couldn’t stop the fire in time as the two teak wood Thai traditional houses which were connected to each other were quickly engulfed and burnt to the ground.

Charred remains of a body believed to be of her was found in the middle of the burnt house along with charred remains of the dogs which were trapped behind wooden bars on the second floor.

Neighbours said they believed the elderly woman returned to her burning house to rescue her dogs after running out shouting fire and asking help from neighbours.

It is believed she suffocated and fainted in the house as it was engulfed by flames.

Neighbours said she was a kind hearted woman who always helped and feed hungry stray dogs and took part in charity activities in the community.

She was single and lived alone with seven dogs on the two storey old Thai teak wood house.

Cause of fire is under inspection but initially police suspected electrical short circuit might be the probable cause as her house was old wooden house.

Thai PBS

 

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