Three runners killed during marathon races in Sing Buri and Rayong province today, one including deputy director-general of Disease Control Department

Central Thailand –

Three participants were reportedly killed during marathon races in Sing Buri and Rayong province today, November 29, one including Disease Control Department Deputy Director-General, Dr. Assadang Ruay-arjin.

The deputy director-general had participated in a half marathon event at Bang Rachan Memorial Park of Sing Buri early this morning before he reportedly collapsed and passed out at the scene.

Medical volunteers performed first aid before transferring the patient to Khai Bang Rachan Hospital at 6:00 AM. Emergency physicians had performed CPR for 1 hour and 15 minutes and used a defibrillator 5 times but he did not respond. Dr. Assadang, 59, was pronounced dead at 07:15 AM from sudden cardiac arrest.

Two other male marathon runners, Narasit Sompak, 54, and Sakan Chanthiya, 30, were seen collapsing 4 kilometers away from the starting point at another marathon race in Rayong province. Their pulses were reportedly absent while they were being rushed to a local hospital.

Both runners were pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. Their bodies will later be delivered to Rayong Hospital for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile in Pattaya, more than 1,000 marathoners have joined a charity run called “Run to End Polio 2020”, organized this morning by Rotary International District 3350 in collaboration with Pattaya City’s authority.

The local marathon was held to raise awareness of polio and campaigning to eradicate the disease. An amount of income from the event will be arranged for providing polio vaccination in schools and communities nationwide.