BURIRAM, THAILAND – A 75-year-old man was found dead in his home after an unusually cool night of about 18 degrees Celsius in northeastern Thailand.
Body found after early-morning emergency call
Police in Ban Dan district received an emergency call at around 7:30 a.m. reporting an unresponsive resident in Ban Pho Thong village. Officers discovered Wa Chamram lying on a mattress in his single-storey house, with no signs of an assault. His body was already in rigor mortis, and investigators estimated he had died at least three hours before being found.
Wife describes final morning
Wa’s 69-year-old wife, Jampii Cherngram, who lived with him and their nine-year-old grandson, said she was shocked by his sudden death. She explained that her husband usually woke up at 5 a.m. every day to light a fire outside to keep warm, but that morning the house remained quiet.
“I went to check and found him motionless. His body was already stiff,”
said Jampii Cherngram, the widow.
Cold shock suspected after night at 18°C
According to the family, Wa had no known pre-existing illnesses and did not drink alcohol. His wife suspected a cold shock, noting that he had slept in an open area of the house as nighttime temperatures dropped to around 18 degrees Celsius. Neighbor Thongsuk Tansiaidee, 67, said he had met the pensioner the previous evening and noticed nothing unusual.
“He looked normal, we talked about fighting cocks,”
said Thongsuk Tansiaidee, a neighbor.
Why mild cold can be dangerous in Isaan
While 18 degrees might feel mild in Europe, in Thailand’s poorer northeast Isaan such temperatures were unusually low. Many houses were not insulated, and numerous older residents lacked warm clothing or heating devices. Sudden hypothermia could be life-threatening, especially for frail or elderly people, as their circulation could collapse.
Authorities probe cause as warnings repeat
Police released Wa’s body to his family for a traditional funeral, and an official autopsy report was still pending. His relatives nonetheless believed he had died a natural death. The incident served as a somber reminder, as Thai authorities regularly warned about the health risks of the “cold season.”
Vulnerable groups at risk in cold season
Officials stressed that the elderly, the sick and the homeless were particularly vulnerable when temperatures dropped. Social service centers often distributed blankets, but assistance did not reach every affected person. For the family of Wa Chamram, the new year began with a tragedy that underlined how even seemingly mild cool weather in Thailand demanded respect.