Writer Rong said on his deathbed

The unconscious 76-year-old writer was admitted to the hospital's emergency unit at 8pm on Friday with fever and slow breathing.

He was diagnosed with a stroke and put in intensive care, Dr Nopporn Niwatananant said. His condition remained critical yesterday and he was under close surveillance.

Case physician Dr Saengroj Pradabkaew said full recovery would be very difficult because the bleeding was in the brain core, inaccessible for surgery without too much risk, and he also had chronic kidney disease, making him more prone to high blood pressure and bleeding.

"Surgery would be a further blow to the patient and hasten his death," he said.

The doctor put him on medicine to improve circulation. He said the next move would be up to Rong's two sons, who were returning from aboard.

Family friend Kannikar Petchkaew said Rong had suffered chronic kidney disease for eight years and needed dialysis 2-3 times a week in Muang Chiang Mai before returning to his home in Mae Rim district.

He had became weak in the past six months and ran a fever for three days before Friday evening, when on return from dialysis he had a seizure and lost consciousness.

Rong and his wife Sumalee have two sons, film-producer Wongdamloeng, 36, and trainee architect Saloengrong, 27. Both live in the US and are scheduled to arrive in Chiang Mai today and tomorrow respectively.

A source close to the family said there was concern that Sumalee would become clinically depressed if Rong died. They have been together for 40 years.