Maha sarakham: A tragic incident unfolded in Maha Sarakham province when a man cutting grass in a rice field was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, leading to his immediate death.
According to Thai News Agency, investigators from Tha Tum Police Station were alerted around 8:00 PM about a fatality in the Ooi Chang area. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of Mr. Samran, a 55-year-old resident of Ooi Chang, lying in the field. The body bore burn marks from the head to the chest, suggesting a lightning strike. A lawn mower found nearby also showed signs of damage, with burn marks around the on/off switch and a broken strap.
Mr. Samran's wife recounted to the police that he had gone to the rice fields during the day but failed to return home by evening, prompting her concern. Typically, he would return home for dinner with their children. The family, growing anxious, set out to search for him and ultimately discovered his body in the field. A neighbor who had accompanied Mr. Samran earlier mentioned that around 5:00 PM, heavy rain and thunder began, leading him to seek shelter under a bamboo clump before heading home. He recalled hearing a loud clap of thunder but did not suspect anyone had been harmed until Mr. Samran's wife found him.
Another neighbor shared that he witnessed Mr. Samran cutting grass in the field near dusk. As a thunderstorm approached, the neighbor hurried home and heard a loud thunderclap, never anticipating the tragic outcome.
The attending physician at Mahasarakham Hospital suggested that Mr. Samran was likely struck by lightning while working in the field. The family accepted the cause of death without question, allowing officials to release the body for religious rites.