Pattaya Daily News

Pattaya, the 21^st of October 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 8:30pm on Thursday, Lieutenant Colonel Phitak Nernsaeng (Pattaya Police Investigator) was notified by the Pattaya Memorial Hospital that a group of schoolchildren had been admitted suffering injuries resultant from a lift accident at the Sunbeam Hotel in Soi 8, central Pattaya.

Investigating the incident, a team of officers under the command of Colonel Nunthawut Suwanla-ong (Pattaya Police Superintendent) went to the scene.

On arrival at the Sunbeam Hotel, officers confronted Mr. Songwut Wongsiri [32], the guest relations service manager, who subsequently showed them to the lift at fault in the accident. The lift was marked out of order, while no external damage was immediately evident to officers.

Mr. Wongsiri explained that the lift, a maintenance lift, had suffered an unknown fault before falling and impacting with the ground, but not severely. He revealed that all the hotels lifts had been properly installed and regularly maintained in accordance with international standards. The injured had been transported to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital shortly after the accident.

At the hospital, officers revealed that there were six injured people in the accident, 4 students, Master Bulakorn Amornsongjarern [15], Master Phasakorn Rattanalium [14], Master Thanthorn Photjananuphap [15], Master Itsaraphong Phahonwet [14], their teacher Mrs. Phungphayorm Khanwong [32] and a hotel staff member Mr. Khajorn Burirak [25]. All involved had suffered varying injuries including broken bones.

In a statement to police, Mrs. Khanwong explained that they had been staying at the Sunbeam Hotel as part of a group of some 12 teachers and 112 students visiting Pattaya for a Mathematics Camp over the 20-22^nd of October.

According to the report, Mrs. Khanwong and nine students had been awaiting the guest lifts on the 12^th floor when they were prompted by Mr. Burirak to use the maintenance lift due to the larger weight limit afforded. While travelling down Mrs. Khanwong explained that at approximately the 6th-floor the lift violently jerked before plummeting to the ground, impacting severely and injuring most of the passengers.

At present, investigations continue into the cause of the accident, with authorities concerned over conflicting reports between the hotel administration and the injured party. Further interviews with the injured children will be conducted following their discharge from hospital.

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Extensive Gallery [ 3 photos ]