Border Patrol Teacher Airlifted to Bangkok After Firecracker Accident
A Border Patrol Police teacher was airlifted to Bangkok for specialized eye treatment after being injured by a discarded firecracker in Mae Hong Son.
On October 24, 2026, Police Lance Corporal Nareerat Phairotniyomchai, a teacher at the Ban Ko Prae Border Patrol Police Learning Center in Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, sustained a serious eye injury. According to Khaosod Online, the incident occurred while the officer was attempting to remove a discarded firecracker from a local creek to prevent potential harm to her students. The device detonated during the process, causing injury to her left eye.
Following initial surgery at Sri Sangwan Hospital, the Border Patrol Police Command coordinated an emergency medical evacuation. On the morning of October 28, 2026, a police helicopter transported the officer to the Police General Hospital in Bangkok for further specialized care. The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police has expressed concern regarding the incident and has ordered the hospital to provide the best possible medical treatment.
For residents and travelers in remote areas, this incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of unexploded or discarded pyrotechnics. While this was an isolated event involving a specific hazardous object, it highlights the importance of caution when encountering suspicious items in rural environments. Details regarding the long-term prognosis for the officer’s vision and the origin of the discarded firecracker remain to be confirmed by ongoing reports.
