Officials rushed to transfer Professor Doctor Teerasak Kaewomtawong, a renowned medical professor, onto a plane bound for urgent brain surgery at Ramathibodi Hospital after his condition worsened critically, requiring immediate advanced specialist medical care.
On 25 May 2026, reporters updated on a tragic accident case in which a British man riding a motorcycle collided with Professor Doctor Ton, or Associate Professor Doctor Teerasak Kaewomtawong, a well-known medical professor, causing severe injuries before fleeing the scene on Koh Phangan Island, Surat Thani Province. Police from Koh Phangan Station later apprehended the suspect, Mr. Wilcock Duncan, a British national, who was found with abrasions on his body.
Upon questioning, he confessed to hitting a pedestrian with his motorcycle at the scene. Alcohol tests showed a 0 milligram level. He was then taken for detailed blood alcohol and urine drug tests at Koh Phangan Hospital. Later, the urine test results confirmed the presence of cocaine in his system.
Most recently, at 14:30 at Samui Airport, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province, medical teams from Bangkok Hospital Samui and relatives coordinated to request support from the Police Aviation Division, Royal Thai Police, to urgently transfer Associate Professor Doctor Teerasak Kaewomtawong. His brain condition was critical, necessitating immediate brain surgery by specialist surgeons.
Officials transported Associate Professor Doctor Teerasak from Bangkok Hospital Samui to the standby Police Aviation plane waiting at Samui Airport to fly directly to Bangkok. A medical and nursing team provided close monitoring throughout the flight.
The purpose of this air transfer was to bring Associate Professor Doctor Teerasak into treatment at Ramathibodi Hospital, his affiliated institution. The hospital had prepared the operating room, neurosurgical team, and advanced medical equipment ready for his immediate care upon landing.
Regarding the legal case, Pol. Lt. Gen. Sitthichai Lokanaphai, Commander of Region 8 Police, instructed Koh Phangan Police Station to prosecute Mr. Wilcock Duncan, the British suspect, firmly and straightforwardly after urine tests clearly confirmed cocaine presence. He faces serious charges including reckless driving causing severe injury, hit and run, driving without a license, and use of a Schedule 1 illicit drug.
Additionally, authorities have ordered investigators to expand inquiries into the tourism boat business where the suspect hid, to determine if it operates illegally as a nominee or if foreign influential figures support it. This aims to dismantle foreign mafia networks on Koh Phangan and restore justice to the professor who has contributed significantly to Thai society.
Reports indicate that document checks show Mr. Wilcock entered Thailand with a Non-B visa (business or work) valid until 25 Dec 2026. Pol. Col. Apichat Jansamret, Chief of Koh Phangan Police Station, has ordered investigators to trace the suspect's timeline and locations prior to the collision at the scene, and to interview related witnesses. If additional evidence emerges, legal action will proceed accordingly.