70-year-old man rescued after home collapses while asleep

SAMUT PRAKAN — 18 September 2026, A 70-year-old man was rescued after the wooden house where he was sleeping suddenly collapsed in Phra Pradaeng district early Friday morning.

The incident was reported at around 04:30 in a community behind Wat Pa Ket School in Song Khanong subdistrict. Local officials were alerted that a house had collapsed and that an elderly man was trapped inside.

The house, located in Soi Phetchahueng 14, was a single-storey wooden structure in a narrow lane about 300 metres from the main road.

Neighbours and officials found Toi Sae Sim, 70, trapped beneath the collapsed structure near his bed. He was heard crying out for help.

Residents and rescue workers immediately began removing debris and roof tiles. After about 25 minutes, they managed to pull him from the wreckage.

First responders from Song Khanong Subdistrict Administrative Organisation examined Toi and found that he had suffered a back injury. He was taken to Bang Chak Hospital for treatment.

The house covered about 15 square wah and had been in use for nearly 50 years. Toi had lived there alone for decades.

Local officials said the house had already been showing signs of deterioration. The Song Khanong Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and local authorities had reportedly inspected the property two or three days before the collapse as part of efforts to arrange for a new house to be built.

However, the house collapsed before assistance could be provided.

Neighbour becomes first rescuer

Suriya Saengchan, 47, a resident of Moo 3, was the first person to enter the collapsed structure.

He said he had been asleep when his nephew woke him and told him to check on Toi, whose house had collapsed.

Suriya said he had not heard the house collapse because he was sleeping. After being alerted, he immediately went to the scene.

When he arrived, the entire structure had collapsed. He heard Toi calling for help from inside and began removing debris and throwing aside roof tiles.

Suriya said he did not have time to think about the risk of the structure collapsing further, as his only priority was to get Toi out alive.

Teen volunteer calls for reinforcements

Veerathon Nara, 17, a disaster relief volunteer with the Halun Foundation and Kan Chom Phalang Chuai Sue Foundation, said he heard a loud crash while sleeping.

He looked out of his window and saw that the neighbouring house had disappeared. He immediately called his uncle and asked him to come and help.

After learning that someone was trapped deep inside the collapsed house, Veerathon called for additional manpower.

Rescuers faced difficulties reaching the victim because there was no clear way into the structure and they had to climb over the debris. The area was also filled with nails.

The house had no electricity or running water, as the utilities had already been disconnected. The resident normally obtained electricity through a connection from the nearby temple.

Veerathon said the house had already been leaning to one side and was visibly old. Residents had expected that it could eventually collapse.

Resident says house suddenly caved in

Toi said he had been sleeping when the house suddenly collapsed without warning.

The structure came down on top of him, but rescuers managed to reach him and bring him outside.

He said he suffered only minor injuries and was still able to walk normally. He had lived alone in the house for more than 50 years.

Song Khanong subdistrict headman Chuchat Chiamthong said officials were alerted by a Moo 3 local administrative member and immediately went to inspect the scene.

He said the house was old and had previously been leaning and deteriorating. Authorities had been trying to arrange assistance, but the collapse occurred before the work could be carried out.

Only one person was living in the house. Toi sustained minor injuries, including what officials described as a sprain, and was considered safe.

The property belongs to Wat Pa Ket. The temple abbot, local administration and volunteers helped remove the collapsed structure blocking the road so that traffic could resume.

Authorities have cordoned off the area for safety and said the local administrative organisation would consider measures to provide initial assistance to Toi.

Wat Pa Ket abbot Phra Khru Palad Phanurak Sumetho said Toi was a long-time local resident who had lived alone for more than 30 years.

The temple said the house had deteriorated over time. The abbot, temple caretaker and committee members would jointly issue documentation confirming Toi’s rental of temple land to support an application for relief funds and assistance with housing.

If Toi has nowhere to stay, the temple is prepared to provide temporary accommodation.