Deep sorrow as the body of “Nong Folk,” Police Sergeant Sitthichok Butthitak, 25, victim of the Lat Phrao brewery fire, is received. His father expressed pride that his son passed the police exams after three attempts through self-study without tutors.
On 15 July 2016 at 16:00 at a home in Chao Tha Subdistrict, Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province, the Poh Teck Tung Foundation delivered the body of “Nong Folk,” Police Sergeant Sitthichok Butthitak, one of the victims of the tragic fire at a well-known brewery in Bangkok, back to his hometown for a three-night funeral ceremony at home from 15-17 July 2016, with cremation scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2016.
The body was transported starting at 13:00 to Pa Promrangsi Forest Temple, Ban Tha Mai, Chao Tha Subdistrict, Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province, for cremation at 15:00. Nong Folk’s mother, speaking to reporters, was still deeply grieving and unable to speak clearly.
Mr. Wisut Butthitak, the deceased’s father, revealed he learned from relatives that his youngest son died at around 23:30 on the day of the incident. Before the tragedy, the family had gone on a trip to Cha-am two weeks earlier. When he first heard the news, he did not expect the situation to be so severe. When relatives called, he thought his son, being a trained police officer, would be able to survive.
However, upon visiting the scene, he realized otherwise. According to reports, the emergency exit was locked from the outside, preventing the door from opening. If his son had tried to escape alone, he might have gotten out in time, but since he was concerned about his girlfriend who was with him, he returned to help her. This caused him to inhale smoke, lose consciousness in the bathroom, and subsequently pass away.
The deceased’s commanding officer said that on the cremation day, they would discuss details of assistance and benefits, advising the family to prepare necessary documents. He acknowledged that government procedures might take some time. He also expressed gratitude to the Poh Teck Tung Foundation for transporting the body free of charge and providing 20,000 baht for funeral expenses. The Ministry of Justice indicated they would provide an additional 300,000 baht in aid, Chatuchak District contributed over 20,000 baht, while police welfare benefits remain uncertain.
“I am proud of my youngest son (the deceased) and my eldest son; both have shown perseverance and worked hard to study and pass the police exam successfully. I told them the police profession is stable, unlike my own work as a taxi driver with uncertain daily income,” the father said.
Nong Folk said he wanted to become a police officer because many of his older friends from the same youth group were police and military personnel whom he admired. He studied on his own and succeeded after three attempts without attending tutoring classes. The father reflected that his son’s limited merits meant time cannot be reversed, and those left behind must continue to persevere.” He praised his late son’s determination.