TRAT, THAILAND – A Thai Navy patrol boat evacuated a critically injured foreign tourist from the island of Ko Kood after a fall left him with a skull fracture and a severe leg injury.
Emergency call from Ko Kood
On the morning of 27 November, the command center received an emergency call from Bangkok Hospital Trat, which requested immediate assistance. A foreign tourist had suffered a serious fall on Ko Kood, with doctors diagnosing a skull fracture and a complex leg injury.
“An operation on the island was impossible,”
said a hospital spokesperson.
“Every minute counted.”
Navy deploys patrol boat T.228
Rear Admiral Charam Pakorn ordered an urgent deployment, and at 11:00 a.m. patrol boat T.228 left on its rescue mission. The vessel headed at speed toward Ao Yai Pier on Ko Kood, carrying medical equipment and experienced paramedics.
“Under maritime emergency protocols we did not lose a second,”
said a Navy officer.
“Transport to the mainland was the only chance.”
Risky transfer to Trat naval base
After taking the patient on board, the patrol boat set course for the Navy base in Trat. According to the report, every wave on the route could have meant the difference between life and death. The Navy coordinated each step of care with the hospital, as time-critical treatment is vital in head injury cases.
“The smooth cooperation between everyone involved was impressive,”
said an eyewitness.
“That certainly saved lives.”
Protocols for remote island rescues
For remote islands such as Ko Kood, such rescue operations are described as vital for survival, with weather and distance often turning into a deadly trap. The Thai Navy has specific protocols for these emergencies, and every maneuver is carefully rehearsed.
“Without the Navy operation, the patient would have had no chance of a timely operation,”
said a medical doctor.
Critical hours after arrival
At the naval base in Trat, a medical team immediately took over care of the injured tourist. He was transferred seamlessly to Bangkok Hospital Trat, where an urgent operation was to take place and doctors fought for his life.
“The next few hours are critical,”
hospital sources said, adding that the Navy had once again shown that no tourist in Thailand was left alone.