PHUKET, Thailand – A tragic incident unfolded on the morning of April 26 when a green-plate taxi failed to give way to an ambulance rushing a critically ill patient to Patong Hospital. The patient, a 77-year-old man with a history of heart disease, collapsed while visiting his durian orchard in Kamala. Despite emergency responders’ swift action, the ambulance was forced to slow down due to the taxi, which not only refused to move aside but also allegedly swerved and collided with the emergency vehicle. The delay proved fatal as medical staff were unable to revive the patient, who was pronounced dead at around 8:45 a.m. on board the ambulance.
Video footage shared online shows the ambulance with sirens blaring, struggling to overtake the taxi along the narrow Kamala-Patong coastal road near Kalim Beach. Witnesses said the driver could have easily pulled over to let the emergency vehicle pass. The patient’s daughter, still shaken, revealed that her father still had a pulse when he was placed in the ambulance. “If he had just moved a little, my dad might still be alive,” she said tearfully.
Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and have summoned the taxi driver for questioning. Initial charges include obstructing an emergency vehicle and violating patient rights. Authorities emphasize the need for stricter enforcement and public awareness campaigns to ensure this type of incident does not happen again.
