Bangkok (AP) – A construction worker on a fishing trip dramatically rescued two Norwegian bird watchers who were sinking into a mudflat in southern Thailand, lying down in the mud to allow the pair to use his body to pry themselves to safety.
The incident Friday morning, Oct. 16 in Krabi province was caught on camera by an amateur photographer from Bangkok, who posted the video on his Facebook page. The posting got at least 1.6 million views, with many showering the rescuer with praise.
The Norwegian pair, whose names were not released, had taken their cameras to a river estuary at first light Friday, but the mudflats proved to be far less firm than they had thought. Very quickly, they found themselves sinking.
In this image made from video provided by Theerasak Saksritawee, Thai construction worker Chat Ubonchinda lies in the mud as he helps two unidentified Norwegian bird watchers who were sinking into a mudflat in Krabi, southern Thailand, Friday, Oct. 16. Chat lay down in the mud to allow the pair to use his body to pry themselves to safety. (Theerasak Saksritawee via AP)
A local construction worker, identified by Thai media as Chat Ubonchinda, was heading home from his fishing trip by boat when he spotted them.
First, he tried to pull the two out, but the mud was too thick.
After taking their belongings to firmer ground, Chat lay down in the mud and let the two lift themselves up by pulling against his body. One of them even crawled across his back on the way to safety.
“All Thais are proud of what you did, it’s great and no more words need to be explained,” Somchai Ouansakul wrote in a Facebook comment. “I wish all Thais would have such a big heart like this.”
