NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A manhunt has been launched to recapture a prison convict who escaped early Sunday morning from a hospital.

The convict, Chaowalit Thongduang, 37, alias "Sia Paeng Na Nod", had been admitted to the hospital for dental care.

He was serving time after being sentenced to more than 20 years in jail last year for attempted murder. The charge was in connection with an armed attack on police as part of an abduction attempt on Sept 2, 2019, in Phatthalung.

Chaowalit began to serve time at Phatthalung prison in January 2022 and was transferred to Nakhon Si Thammarat prison on Aug 7 this year.

On Friday, Oct 20, he was taken by prison warders to Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital for dental treatment.

At the hospital, the doctor providing his treatment postponed the appointment. As he was about to be taken back to the prison, Chaowalit suddenly fell unconscious. He was subsequently placed in a room where he was chained to a bed, and his legs were put in shackles.

Two warders were assigned to keep a close watch on him. He was initially scheduled to be released from the hospital on Sunday at 8.30am. But, on Sunday at 1am, he disappeared. The warders reported his disappearance to Muang police station three hours later.

Sahakarn Phetnarin, director-general of the Department of Corrections, ordered the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison commander to launch a manhunt to recapture Chaowalit, with help from police and soldiers.