Police Helicopter Airlifts Injured Toddler from Flooded Thungyai Naresuan Forest
A three-year-old boy with a suspected broken femur was airlifted from a remote area in Kanchanaburi after flooding blocked ground access.
On October 20, 2026, a police Bell 429 helicopter conducted an emergency medical evacuation for a three-year-old boy located in Ban Sa Kae, within the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province. According to Khaosod Online, the child had sustained a suspected fractured femur, head abrasions, and urinary retention following a motorcycle accident.
Local medical teams were unable to reach the patient or transport him by road due to severe flooding that cut off access routes to the area. After receiving initial care using traditional herbal remedies, the child was airlifted to Phahon Phonphayuhasena Hospital for professional medical treatment. The mission was part of the Sky Doctor emergency medical operation, which coordinates aerial support for patients in inaccessible regions.
For residents and travelers, this incident highlights the logistical challenges posed by the rainy season in Thailand’s remote forest regions, where natural disasters can quickly isolate communities. While the child is now under hospital care, the full extent of his recovery and the duration of the road closures in the Thungyai Naresuan area remain to be confirmed by local authorities. Travelers planning to visit remote areas in Kanchanaburi are advised to monitor local weather reports and road conditions closely, as infrastructure in these protected zones is highly susceptible to seasonal flooding.
