UNIVERSITY HAZING
SIRIKUL BUNNAG & THAI NEWS AGENCY
A university freshman died from brain injuries after receiving a blow to his head from a hard object, an autopsy has found.
Kritsana, Chatsuwan, 25, a freshman at Rajamangala University of Technology's Uthen Thawai campus, died after being a victim of "hazing" activities.
The term refers to tests or tasks, often embarrassing, carried out in social groups, sometimes as a rite of initiation.
The student's father, Prachern Chatsuwan, believes his son was assaulted by older students. He has lodged a complaint with police against senior students at the university.
Kritsana died at Hua Hin hospital on Monday after being admitted to intensive care on Saturday. Hazing activities were taking place at Ban Krut beach, in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan, when he was injured.
Dr Vichai Charoenkitpan, who treated him, said Kritsana was comatose when he arrived at the hospital, covered in bruises and with a head wound. Doctors put him on a respirator and operated twice to stop the bleeding in his brain.
Mr Prachern said he wanted to know more about his son's death, so he sent Kritsana's body to the police Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy, one day after the body returned to Samut Prakan, the family's hometown, for funeral rites.
Kritsana's mother, Surin, said she wanted to put the issue to rest.
She accepted the university's offer of compensation to cover medical and funeral expenses.
One student, who asked not to be named, said the brain injury resulted from a head-diving prank.
Senior students held the freshman by the ankles, lifted his body one to two metres in the air, then let go of his feet, sending his head diving into the ground. It was intended as a test of courage.
Deputy Education Minister Boonlue Prasertsopha yesterday told the Office of the Higher Education Commission to look into whether a hazing prank caused the death.
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