A woman was left so badly injured by a moving walkway at an airport that it resulted in her needing to have her leg amputated.
The 57-year-old Thai woman tragically lost her leg in a freak accident at Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport on Thursday morning, according to reports from CNN.
She had been on her way to the southern city of Nakhon Si Thammarat when her leg became caught in the machinery of the moving walkway, in what authorities described as a "severe" accident.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:27AM local time in the southern corridor of the domestic passenger terminal, has left the victim with life-changing injuries.
Despite immediate medical attention and transfer to a nearby hospital, the severity of her injuries necessitated the amputation of her leg up to the kneecap, according to Karant Thanakuljeerapat, the Director of Don Mueang International Airport.
The woman, whose identity has yet to be disclosed by authorities, was subsequently transferred to Bumrungrad International Hospital, one of Thailand's leading medical facilities. "I would like to convey our deepest sorrow," Karant shared with reporters, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
In a statement on Facebook, the victim's son, Krit Kittirattana, labeled the incident as "heartbreaking". He mentioned his mother's ongoing medical treatment and the potential risk of complications, with doctors monitoring her closely for signs of infection.
"My mother has continued to express her strength through her face and voice. But deep down we know that her heart is broken since she suddenly lost her leg," he wrote.
Kittirattana and his family have requested surveillance footage of the unfortunate incident, while the airport director assured that Airports Of Thailand (AOT), the operator of multiple airports nationwide, will shoulder all medical expenses and provide compensation.
The tragic event has led to a temporary halt in the operation of all airport moving walkways for safety checks, and an ongoing investigation into the cause of the incident. "We might need to set up a fact-finding committee with outsiders to join in order to achieve impartiality and transparency," Karant stated.
While the CCTV footage is under scrutiny, the director maintained that the airport's routine maintenance and safety measures were up to standard, noting that the involved walkway had been in operation for 39 years.
As a key gateway to Thailand's warm weather and scenic beaches, Don Mueang International Airport, along with Suvarnabhumi Airport, serves countless tourists each year. Before the coronavirus pandemic, tourism accounted for about 12% of Thailand's economy with nearly 40 million arrivals in 2019. The first quarter of 2023 has already seen a promising rebound, logging 6.15 million arrivals.