NONTHABURI, Thailand – The family of 12-year-old Naphat “Fay” Chaima, a Grade 7 student who died after being seriously injured in the shooting at Debsirind Nonthaburi School, brought her body to Wat Lat Pla Duk in Bang Bua Thong district on August 9 for funeral rites. Naphat died on August 8 from her injuries, becoming the ninth fatality linked to the shooting. She had suffered a serious gunshot wound to the head and had remained in critical condition following the incident.
Her parents and rescue workers arrived at the temple at around noon on August 9, where relatives and friends gathered to pay their respects and take part in the traditional bathing ceremony. The atmosphere was deeply emotional as family members mourned the loss. Her uncle, Krai Kaewsawang, 42, said the family was shocked by how quickly the incident unfolded and had continued hoping that Naphat would recover. He described her as a cheerful child who loved performing and taking part in school activities. She was involved in several school clubs and had studied dance, while her family had supported her interests and hoped she could pursue a career in the performing arts. Naphat dreamed of becoming a performer and was interested in dance, cover performances and acting.
Krai said the family was devastated, particularly because Naphat was her mother’s only child. He said the family did not want to place all the blame on the student involved, noting that there were wider issues that society needed to examine, including student stress and safety standards at large schools. He called for greater attention to school security and closer monitoring and support for children, saying young people now have easy access to a wide range of online content and need stronger guidance and care from adults. The family plans to hold Buddhist funeral prayers for three nights before the cremation ceremony on August 13.
