KAMPHAENG PHET, Thailand – A family in Kamphaeng Phet is seeking help to bring home the body of a 34-year-old Thai woman who died suddenly while working in South Korea, with relatives saying they cannot afford the estimated 200,000-baht repatriation cost. The woman, identified as Piyawan Samridee, from Trai Trueng subdistrict in Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, had worked in South Korea as a traditional massage therapist for about seven years. Her death came to the family’s attention after several Facebook pages posted an appeal seeking relatives of a Thai woman who had died in South Korea and urged them to urgently contact the Thai Embassy in Seoul.
A local community leader recognized the woman in the photographs and contacted her family.
At the family’s home in Wang Nam Khao village, 69-year-old Lamyai Samridee, Piyawan’s mother, was devastated by the news. She said her daughter regularly called home and occasionally sent money to help support the family. Their last conversation was on August 8, when Piyawan told her mother that she was experiencing unusually heavy menstrual bleeding. Her mother advised her to take pain medication. Lamyai said her daughter had no known underlying medical conditions and that the family is waiting for South Korean authorities to establish the actual cause of death. The family later learned from Piyawan’s colleagues in South Korea that repatriating her body could cost around 200,000 baht, while bringing only her cremated remains home could cost approximately 100,000 baht.
The family, which relies on general labor work and has limited financial resources, said it has no savings to cover such a large expense. Her mother has therefore appealed to members of the public for help so her daughter can be brought back to Kamphaeng Phet for funeral rites. Winai Detsri, chief executive of Trai Trueng Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, visited the family to offer condolences and support. He has also begun coordinating with relevant agencies to explore ways of helping with the repatriation. The family is accepting donations through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC):
Account No. 016-982-971-787
Account name: Lamyai Samridee
The family said the account will be closed once sufficient funds have been raised to cover the repatriation arrangements.
