Samui plane victims move to Bangkok

Dr Chakkrapun Pongsathien, director of Bangkok Hospital Samui, said yesterday that five foreigners were transferred to Bangkok Hospital in the capital on Wednesday night, so their families and embassies can visit them.

A Dutch national who had been taken to Bandon International Hospital in Surat Thani, was also moved to the same hospital.

In Bangkok, Bangkok Hospital CEO Chatri Duangnet said the copilot, Thanawat Premruethai, was in stable condition but still on a respirator as he suffered lung damage and broken ribs from the collision.

He underwent surgery in the afternoon to stop bleeding in his abdomen and will be kept in the intensive care unit after the operation, Dr Chatri said.

Of the six foreigners, four have broken legs and two have soft tissue wounds. A Briton with colon cancer is expected to be moved out of the ICU later in the day.

Another patient will have an operation to repair his broken leg.