THAI helps comatose Thai in Korea

Thai Airways International has agreed to help Rapeeporn “Min” Nasa-an by installing a patient bed and medical equipment into an aircraft which will bring her back from South Korea to Thailand for further treatment, says THAI’s acting president Usanee Sangsingkeo.

Ms Rapeeporn, 25, went to South Korea on a short trip with three friends on March 20 and was supposed to return to Thailand last Friday.

However, she fell ill last Thursday and was admitted to a local hospital in South Korea for treatment.

Ms Rapeeporn is in a coma but no longer needs to rely on a respirator. She suffered a form of shock, though the cause of her condition remains unclear. Her family wants her to receive further treatment in Thailand.

Earlier, Ms Rapeeporn’s family had asked help from THAI, which provides flights between Seoul and Bangkok, to bring her home to Thailand. Mrs Usanee said her company will also offer air tickets for Ms Rapeeporn’s relatives and a doctor who will accompany the patient when she returns.

She added THAI would have to work with the Korean doctors who have provided treatment for Ms Rapeeporn and the company’s health personnel team in preparation for her trip to Thailand.

THAI has also contacted the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul to get updates on the patient’s condition and provide help to her family, she added.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said Theerapong Nasa-an, Ms Rapeeporn’s father, had met the MFA’s officials in Seoul and understood the family could borrow from the MFA’s fund for Thais facing troubles abroad.

However, as Ms Rapeeporn is still in a coma, it is not known when she can be transferred to Thailand and how much her medical costs in Korea would be, the MFA spokeswoman said.

Her family had previously raised concerns about the likely size of her medical bill.

Ms Busadee said earlier an owner of the hotel where Ms Rapeeporn used to be an intern had offered accommodation for her visiting father during his stay in Seoul.