The family of Duangphet “Dom” Phromthep, the young captain of the Wild Boars football team whose rescue from a flooded cave in 2018 captured the attention of the world, want his body brought back from the United Kingdom to Chiang Rai for a northern-style funeral.
The 17-year-old footballer was pronounced dead on Tuesday after receiving treatment for three days at a UK hospital, said former Thai national football coach Kiatisak “Zico” Senamuang.
Mr Kiatisak is the founder of the Zico Foundation, which last year granted a full scholarship to Duangphet to study at Brooke House College Football Academy in the UK.
On Sunday, Duangphet was found lying unconscious in a dormitory room where he lived alone and was rushed to hospital, Mr Kiatisak said during a press conference held via Zoom from Vietnam, where he currently works.
Media reports claim he died as a result of slipping and falling over in a bathroom.
Mr Kiatisak said he always remembered Duangphet as a strong and fast young forward who had no history of injuries.
“I am still shocked about what happened,” he said, recalling Duangphet’s wish made known to Mr Kiatisak recently that he wanted to stay on in the UK after his three-year scholarship ended.
Thanaphon Phromthep, Duangphet’s mother, said she had asked Mr Kiatisak to help arrange for her son’s body to be sent back to their home in the northern province so that a proper Lanna-style funeral could be held for him.
She said she was initially informed by the Thai embassy in the UK that his body would possibly be cremated in England, and only the ashes sent back to Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with the embassy to follow the wishes of the Duangphet family.
His mother, father and grandmother yesterday morning offered alms to Buddhist monks at their home in Mae Sai district and prayed for the body to be brought back soon for the funeral.
At Wachiralai School in Chiang Mai’s Saraphi district, where Duangphet studied before he moved to the UK, students and teachers observed a moment’s silence for the young footballer.
Khanong Tonlek, the school’s principal, said he was struggling to comprehend how such a strong and well-trained young footballer could have died so suddenly, simply from falling over.