Armed Forces probe confirms cadet dies of heart failure

BANGKOK, Dec 15 (TNA) - The Armed Forces fact-finding committee concluded the result of the investigation into the death of the first year cadet, saying he was not physically assaulted but died of heart failure. The finding said that the first year student of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, Pakapong Tanyakan fell from stairs days before he collapsed and his rib was broken due to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), performed for four hours to save his life. Supreme Commander General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan received the report from the committee and had the panel chairman, ACM Chawarat Marungruang, deputy chief of staff of the armed forces and other five members of 11- person committee told the press conference today. ACM Chavarat said the probe examined footage from surveillance cameras and questioned four groups of witnesses – cadets, doctors, staff in the military preparatory school and witnesses, who saw the incidents since Oct 17, when Pakapong died. The investigation found that no one punished Pakapong or hurt him. The penal reaffirmed heart failure is the cause of his death as indicated in his first autopsy by the army-run Phramongkutklao Hospital. He added that the cadet’s family will be invited to hear the result of the investigation on December 18. According to a source from his family, Suphitcha Tanyakan, the dead cadet’s sister said the result of the army probe has nothing new and her family relies on the second autopsy result from the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS). The family is now waiting for the results of the repeated DNA test, before they will give further information and give interview to the press. (TNA)