Police Major General Surawut Saengrungruang, Provincial Police Commander of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, has ordered an explanation and is considering establishing an investigative committee regarding the "Sai Mai Must Survive" case, in which a 42-year-old man with a brain hemorrhage was mistakenly thought by patrol police to be drunk driving. He was handcuffed and taken to the police station without being taken to the hospital. He remains in critical condition and unconscious, with a 50/50 chance of recovery.
On 5 March 2026, reporters reported that the man's wife sought justice after her husband was arrested because police assumed he was drunk driving, but in fact he had a brain hemorrhage. He tried to signal an SOS with his hands for help since he could not speak, but the police did not understand. As a result, he was taken to the hospital late, causing brain damage. He remains in critical condition unconscious after several days, with a 50/50 chance.
The wife of Mr. Theeramit, 42, sought assistance from Mr. Ekaphop Luangprasert, founder of the "Sai Mai Must Survive" page, after her husband suffered a stroke and brain hemorrhage. He lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a parked motorcycle at a gas station. He tried to signal for help with his hands to the authorities but was not understood. He was then handcuffed and taken into custody by police who thought he was drunk driving.
The incident occurred in the early morning of 1 March. Mr. Theeramit, a hired driver, left home as usual but began experiencing weakness in his limbs and slurred speech. He tried to steer his vehicle into a gas station for help but lost control and crashed into a parked motorcycle, causing damage. Police arrived at the scene but assumed the driver was intoxicated. They radioed for backup, handcuffed him, and placed him into a police pickup truck without any initial medical assessment.
It was later discovered that the patient was suffering from a brain hemorrhage, was in critical condition, unconscious, and required emergency surgery. He remains unconscious. Doctors reported some brain tissue was irreparably damaged, requiring close monitoring.
A review of bystander video footage shows that when authorities arrived, Mr. Theeramit tried to signal an "SOS" with his hands because he could not speak, but no one understood the meaning, delaying assistance.
At 14:00 on 4 March 2026 at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Police Headquarters, Mr. Ekaphop Luangprasert, founder of "Sai Mai Must Survive," accompanied the wife and family of Mr. Theeramit, 42, to seek justice from Police Major General Surawut Saengrungruang, Provincial Police Commander, along with Police Colonel Ekkarat Unchareon, Deputy Commander, and Police Colonel Arthit Simcharoen, Superintendent of Bang Pahan Police Station.
Police Colonel Arthit Simcharoen explained the officers' actions, stating that at 03:40 on 1 March 2026, they received a report of a pickup truck colliding with a motorcycle inside a gas station, with the driver appearing intoxicated. Traffic patrol took about 8 minutes to arrive. Gas station staff reported the driver seemed drunk and was trying to maneuver the vehicle in and out. Backup was requested, the vehicle keys were removed, and questioning was unsuccessful due to the driver's incoherent and dazed state. The driver was restrained to prevent escape or harm, and a search was conducted to locate relatives.
The detainee was taken to Bang Pahan Police Station at 04:44. Upon reassessment, officers still considered the driver highly intoxicated and sent him to Bang Pahan Hospital, arriving at 05:00. Doctors admitted him and feared delirium. Patrol officers stayed with him until 08:00 before he was transferred to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital around 10:00.
Deputy Provincial Police Commander Police Colonel Ekkarat Unchareon stated that handcuffing followed regulations to prevent detainees from jumping out of vehicles or self-harm. Upon arrival at Bang Pahan Police Station and hospital transfer, handcuffs were immediately removed, and the detainee was monitored until 08:00. He confirmed officers followed protocols and the law.
Police Major General Surawut Saengrungruang said he ordered involved officers to report all details. The initial report was given to the family today. A formal explanation will await a full report to him.
Regarding knowledge of hand signals, all officers receive training from police academy, but it is unclear whether officers noticed the SOS signal since the patrol had not yet arrived when the hand was raised. Nevertheless, there will be a review and skill enhancement for patrol officers to improve operational effectiveness.
Whether there was any misconduct will be determined by reviewing surveillance footage and body camera recordings. If deficiencies are found, a disciplinary investigation committee will be established.
Later at 16:00 the same day, after a meeting, Police Major General Surawut Saengrungruang and Police Colonel Arthit Simcharoen visited the injured man at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital. They did not enter the ICU but presented a gift basket and spoke with the patient's wife, promising police would do their best and ensure justice for the family. They asked the police to gather complete information and promised to update the family.
The injured man's wife said doctors reported her husband's condition as 50/50 after brain surgery, and she has been preparing herself for any outcome. She still has concerns but awaits police investigation. She insists her husband had no prior illnesses and was the family's pillar. She believes police should exercise judgment when assessing injuries and consider medical causes in such cases to prevent similar incidents. Her husband took over nine hours to reach proper medical care after the incident.