ROYAL HONOUR FOR KRABI’S MUDDY RESCUER

The Krabi fisherman who laid his body on the line to help drag two stuck-in-themud tourists to safety has received royal recognition for his efforts.

Chat Ubonchinda, 44, received the Order of the Direkgunabhorn on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 88th birthday yesterday. The full list of about 5,000 people who received royal honours was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

Mr Chat became a figure of national pride for saving the stranded Norwegian birdwatcher Arild Hagen and his Chinese wife Guo Yaxiang from sinking into thick river mud at Chao Fa dam in Krabi province in October. The pair became stuck while trying to take photos of birds and mangrove creatures there, sinking up to their thighs.

Mr Chat won widespread praise after a video of his heroic deed was posted online. After failing to pull the couple to safety, Mr Chat decided to lie down flat on his stomach and allow the tourists to step on his legs and back as they climbed out.

The Royal Gazette also posted notices of those who have been stripped of their royal decorations.

Disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan and two other convicts in his criminal network — Pol Maj Gen Kowit Wongrungroj, a former deputy CIB chief, and former chief of the Marine Police Division Boonsueb Phraithuean — lost their decorations.

They will have their royal decorations revoked on the grounds that they committed serious disciplinary misconduct that resulted in them being dismissed from their positions.

On Jan 30, the Criminal Court sentenced Pongpat and Kowit to six years in prison for lese majeste and their involvement in illegal casinos. Pongpat has received multiple sentences and has been jailed for more than 30 years.