Chained Phuket 'village crazy man', 37, sent to psychiatric ward

PHUKET: Kusoldham rescue workers yesterday responded to a distress call from a man at rubber farm in Thalang, seeking assistance for his mentally-disturbed sibling.



By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 14 September 2014, 08:44AM

Upon arriving to the scene in Moo 8 of the Sisunthon sub-district, the rescue team numbering 10 met Anurak or “Tawan”, 28, who introduced them to his elder brother, Mr Prawit, 37, who was restricted to the confines of the roughly 4x5 metre ground level section of the elevated orchard house.

Restricting the 37-year-old man was a padlocked chain attached to his ankle and a post. On a wooden bed-counter, there were dishes and bottles.

Tawan explained that of five siblings, three, including Prawit, had suffered from mental health sickness for some time.

And although the two other siblings had already been successfully treated, Prawit remained ill, and regularly suffered from mental outbreaks off and on for the past 20 years.

Tawan said that “outbreaks” began in the year before Prawit graduated from Phuket technical school decades ago, and were unpredictable and uncontrollable.

Lately, he had become a menace in the neighborhood, wandering around, scratching and disassembling villagers cars and motorbikes.

So the family decided to chain him to the house, while contemplating what they should do.

Finally they decided to call Kusoldham. Prawit was responsive, and seemed to be normal.

Nonetheless, Prawit was escorted to the psychiatric ward of Wachira Hospital for initial examination before he will be be sent to another specialist psychiatric facility.