NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The body of a forest ranger who died while patrolling in Tap Lan National Park has been successfully retrieved after a challenging 12-hour rescue operation. According to Thai News Agency, rescue workers from Huk 31, stationed in Seing Sang District, were alerted to the situation on November 5 when Mr. Worawan, a 40-year-old forest ranger, lost consciousness during a patrol in the remote areas of Tap Lan National Park. The incident occurred far from the end of Lam Plai Mat Reservoir, prompting an urgent response from emergency teams. The rescue operation was complicated by the remote location, requiring officers to traverse Lam Plai Mat Reservoir by boat and then trek an additional 5 kilometers through dense forest. Despite the efforts of Mr. Worawan's patrol team, who performed CPR in an attempt to revive him, he was pronounced dead upon the rescue team's arrival. By 02:30 on November 6, officials had managed to transport Mr. Worawan's body out of the forest, using a flat-bottomed boat t o cross the reservoir. The body was then taken to Saeng Sang Hospital for an autopsy. Preliminary findings suggest heatstroke as the cause of death, exacerbated by the heavy equipment Mr. Worawan was carrying, though he had no known underlying health conditions. The entire operation lasted 12 hours. Mr. Kattawut Kanyama, Chief of the 4th Tap Lan National Park Management Area, reported that forest rangers, along with officials from the Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai Research Station, had embarked on a 10-day wildlife survey on the morning of November 5. The team was notified of Mr. Worawan's collapse around 3:30 p.m. and immediately sought assistance from the Hook 31 Nakhon Ratchasima Rescue Team. Unfortunately, Mr. Worawan was found deceased upon their arrival. The park authorities plan to notify the Director-General of the National Park Department to arrange support for Mr. Worawan's family, acknowledging his death occurred in the line of duty.
