Boy, 15, killed in pile driver cable accident at condo construction site
A 15-year-old boy was killed in a gruesome construction accident in Thailand.
The teenager wanted to help his 29-year-old stepfather Kantaphon disconnect the battery terminals of a pile-driver at a luxury condo development in resort city Pattaya.
He stood on the platform but was dragged into the pile driver base by a cable.
The boy suffered catastrophic injuries as his body was 'torn up' by the machine.
Police arrived at the scene to collect his body parts, which were lodged in the cable track, following the accident on June 18.
His mother, 44-year-old Wipawadee, was crying at the scene and had to be given first aid after fainting with grief.
Kantaphon recalled that, while work was wrapping up, he asked his son to disconnect the battery terminals as the boy had said he wanted to help with his father's work.
He added: 'I'm not sure why he climbed onto the pile driver platform but the rope suddenly pulled him into the base of the machine and he was trapped.'
Police Lieutenant Thanathip Jitaree said an investigation was launched into safety regulations at the site.
He said: 'We will examine all those present at the scene, as well as individuals involved in the construction project of this massive luxury condominium, to determine whether the incident was an accident or due to negligence.
'The body of the deceased was recovered for a post-mortem examination. Relatives will then be able to claim the body and conduct religious funeral rites.'
The fatal accident comes months after one of Thailand's worst construction disasters, when a crane collapsed onto a train during a high-speed rail project, killing dozens of passengers in January.
The tragedy sparked scrutiny of Thailand's construction industry as the public questions the country's lax safety regulations.
