A Thai man tragically died after being bitten by ants while trimming trees in a garden in Samut Prakan province, near Bangkok, on 8 October.
Officers from the Khlong Dan police station received a report of the death of 39-year-old Ekkaphan Thianphanthong around 4:00 PM and then inspected the scene, a garden near the Soi Sawang Arom temple in Khlong Dan subdistrict, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan.
The Fatal Moments
He was 30 years old and named Ekkaphan. He was pruning branches near a power line when an ant bit him.
His employer, Pirom Jayakan, 61, told police that Ekkaphan had worked for him for more than ten years and that he loved him like a son.
Ekkaphan climbed up to cut the branches but immediately screamed in pain, saying he had been bitten by an ant. As he began to climb down, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.
His colleagues rushed to help him, administering an inhaler and dousing his face with cold water, but his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Ekkaphan reportedly convulsed and lost consciousness, forcing one of his colleagues to call for help. Unfortunately, the rescue team was unable to save his life.
Discovery in the field
Ekkaphan was found in a garden about 200 meters from the main road. He was found lying on his back, clenching his fists and clenching his limbs. He had no serious visible injuries, except that few ant bites.
His colleagues tried to give him first aid by pouring water on him, using disinfectant, and medical first aid, but he did not regain consciousness.
He was pronounced dead before being taken to hospital. His colleague also had a bite mark, but he survived.
The postmortem results
Authorities have sent the body for postmortem to determine whether the death was caused by anaphylactic shock, venom poisoning, or a combination of both. The ant venom is believed to have caused his death as a result of a severe allergic reaction.
The incident has prompted labor and health organizations to warn that outdoor workers should be provided with protective equipment, epinephrine pens for severe allergic reactions, and emergency response training when working in insect-prone areas.
The community has been shocked, and calls for stricter safety protocols and medical preparedness in the manual labor sector are growing.
Watch the video here.
@thethaigerofficial A routine day of tree-trimming in Samut Prakan turned tragic after a worker died from a severe allergic reaction to ant bites. Witnesses say the man screamed in pain before collapsing moments later. Despite first-aid efforts by co-workers, he could not be revived. Health experts warn that ant venom can trigger fatal anaphylactic shock in seconds, especially for workers without protective gear. Officials urge outdoor laborers to prepare for insect risks and carry emergency allergy medication when working in dense vegetation. SamutPrakan ThailandNews HealthAlert OutdoorSafety AntBiteAllergy LabourSafety WorkplaceAccident Anaphylaxis PublicHealth BreakingNews
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