It is profoundly sad that the body of Suphamongkol, a disaster volunteer known as "Pee Ae," who died while assisting flood victims in Nan province, has arrived in his hometown of Korat. His girlfriend mourns, sharing his final chat message and the initial cause of death, and wishes him peace after his lifelong dedication to helping others.
At 10:00 a.m. on 25 August 2026, at Samakkhi Temple in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima province, the atmosphere was filled with sorrow as the body of Suphamongkol Rattanajit, or Pee Ae, 47, a disaster operations officer from the Puean Pueang (Phak) Yam Yak Foundation, was brought back to his hometown after passing away during flood relief efforts in Nan province.
His body arrived at the temple around 12:30 a.m. earlier that day before being placed in a cold storage room. Family, relatives, and rescue team members gathered to prepare the site for the forthcoming water-pouring ceremony, funeral chants, and cremation, with the water-pouring ceremony scheduled for that evening.
Ratchanee Wimakhokkrut, 53, the deceased’s girlfriend, revealed that around 6:00 a.m., she received a call from the team leader informing her of his passing. She admitted being shocked and unsure how to respond since Pee Ae had been actively working on flood relief in Nan and had sent messages along with photos showing the difficult conditions on site.
Before the incident, Pee Ae returned to the hotel at about 8:00 p.m. and sent a message saying he was "exhausted," noting he had dialysis scheduled at 5:00 a.m. the next day. She saw the message late at night but did not call back, thinking he was resting. The next morning, when his teammates came to pick him up for dialysis and received no response, they requested the hotel key to enter the room, where they found him unconscious and deceased beside the bed.
Preliminary medical reports suggest death may have been caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart, with two coronary arteries found narrowed. He had a history of underlying health issues, including heart treatment and regular dialysis, yet remained fully committed to his volunteer duties.
Through tears, Ratchanee expressed that she does not want Pee Ae to worry about his family, believing he performed his duties to the best and most complete extent. She wished for him to rest peacefully after dedicating himself to volunteer work and helping others throughout his life.
Meanwhile, Sanor Srichanad, 48, a disaster operations officer and teammate, tearfully shared that Pee Ae gave his all in the mission. While working in Nan, he was responsible for delivering food, drinking water, and medicine to affected residents. Despite his poor health, he never complained or showed fatigue and was always ready to work. He lamented the loss, noting that the team of ten intended to return home together, but now only nine remain. He wished Pee Ae a peaceful afterlife and vowed to continue his work.
Pee Ae’s passing is not only a loss to his family but also a significant loss to comrades who shared the commitment of helping disaster victims on multiple occasions. Especially poignant was the last mission where everyone hoped to return home together, leaving behind memories of a volunteer who devoted his life to aiding others.
The cremation ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Samakkhi Temple, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima province.