Thai delegation head dies
Published on: Thursday, April 02, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: A 52-year-old man who headed a four-member delegation from Thailand to the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on combating wildlife trafficking at a resort in Tuaran, died after returning from a nature trail on Wednesday.Sawang Tipayanukool, who was the chief of Klong Krau Yai National Park under Thailand's Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, was found unconscious on a chair at the resort's lobby at 10.30am.He was among the Asean delegates participating in a three-day forum and workshop from March 30 that was co-chaired by Malaysia through the Foreign Ministry and the United States of America.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Tuaran doctor pronounced Sawang dead at 11.45am and the body was later sent for autopsy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 (QEH1).Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said the Government through his ministry will assist in transporting Sawang's body back to his home in Hat Yai, Thailand."We are arranging the flights and we will study the best possible option to transport the body back to his homeland at Hat Yai."Another option we will consider is to go to the northern states of Malaysia and drive to Hat Yai," he said, adding that the body would most probably be sent back today (Thursday).
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking to reporters at the mortuary unit of QEH1, Anifah, who officiated at the forum on Monday, said the Government and his ministry have conveyed condolences to Sawang's family.Also present were Political Secretary to Anifah, Datuk Jihek Basanu, Deputy Director-General Asean Malaysian National Secretariat under the Foreign Ministry, State Wildlife Director William Baya and other officials.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, Tuaran Police Chief DSP Abdul Fuad Malek said there was no foul play in the case and that it had been classified as a sudden death."Our preliminary investigation revealed that Sawang went for jungle trekking not far from the resort as part of the workshop wildlife programme at 8.30am.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
"Two hours later, he came back and sat on a chair at the lobby area to rest after the trekking. Subsequently, a delegate who knew him had greeted him but there was no response from him, only to realise that Sawang was unconscious. "The resort's medical team rushed to Sawang after being alerted and tried to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him but later they sent him to the Tuaran hospital. Unfortunately, the doctor pronounced Sawang dead at 11.45am," he said.