Police have dismissed claims by a Russian woman that official negligence led to her 7-year-old son suffering serious burns after he fell into a hot spring in Mae Hong Son.
The accident occurred in Mae Hong Son's Pai district on Oct 4 but was only made public by Pol Maj Gen Warissiri Leelasiri, superintendent of Tourist Police division 2, yesterday.
Mikhail Ivanov, 7, was visiting the spring with his mother Irina Creptova, when he slipped and fell into the hot water, he said.
He was pulled out within seconds and rushed to hospital but suffered serious burns to his abdomen, arms and legs.
The boy is currently being treated for his injuries in Chiang Mai Ram Hospital.
His mother has since accused authorities of not ensuring people's safety at the spring, saying no fences were erected to prevent people from getting too close to it.
Ms Creptova, 35, who said she is facing a 500,000-baht hospital bill, also said police ignored her claims when she made a complaint following the accident.
However, according to Tourist Police, the spring has clear warning signs that say the water is 94C hot.
The police also dismissed Ms Creptova's claim that officers at Pai district police station did nothing following the accident, saying she did not approach officers there but had made the complaint at Chang Pueak police station in Chiang Mai instead.
Pol Col Tanapol Bintapanya, of Pai police station, said the police will arrange for her son to be transferred to a state hospital to reduce medical costs.