Thai nurse defies Buddhist custom to save monks in deadly crash

A nurse in Thailand has been lauded for challenging Buddhist customs to provide life-saving assistance after a devastating road accident killed 10 monks. Wiwat Laonoi stepped in to treat victims immediately after an 11-year-old boy, driving his parents' pickup truck without permission, plowed into a procession of 35 monks and five lay followers.

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People told me, ‘Wait, that’s a monk!’, but I said it doesn’t matter, right now, this is a patient.

Despite the Buddhist taboo that prohibits women from touching monks, Laonoi prioritized the patients' needs. "People told me, 'Wait, that's a monk!', but I said it doesn't matter, right now, this is a patient," she told AFP. As the first responder on the scene, Laonoi, a nurse with nearly four decades of experience, described the accident as "massive" and unlike anything she had witnessed before.

With no other responders present, Laonoi remained clear-headed, checking pulses, performing CPR, and coordinating with the local hospital. She moved swiftly between victims. Five monks died at the scene, with another five succumbing to their injuries later in the hospital. As of Friday, ten others remained hospitalized, two in critical condition.

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No other responders (had) arrived yet, it was just me.

Laonoi, who was traveling with hospital employee Parichat Kochakueng at the time, hopes to continue volunteering in underserved communities after her retirement. "As a Thai, as a nurse, I'm very proud, I got to use what I know to help my fellow human beings," she said.

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As a Thai, as a nurse, I’m very proud, I got to use what I know to help my fellow human beings.