At the site of where so many prisoners of war and Romusha suffered and died during World War II, the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi has sadly seen another needless tragedy this weekend.
A Japanese businessman, Haruhisa Saito, was thought to be leading his employees at Silvec Co Ltd on a company trip at the time when he was hit by the train on Saturday.
The 52-year old had been trying to take a selfie on the notorious Death Railway, seemingly impervious to the whistles of the approaching train behind him. The train hit him, knocking him off the bridge five metres to the ground.
He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but his injuries – 6 broken ribs and serious head injuries – sadly got the better of him and he was pronounced dead shortly after, reports Thairath (via Thaivisa).
Mr Saito had been on the famous River Kwai Bridge when he was struck by the Thonburi-Nam Tom No 257 train, according to the Bangkok Post.
The Death Railway is a very popular tourist attraction in Thailand, thanks to its world-renowned bleak history and immortalisation in films and literature. Hundreds of tourists are said to have witnessed Mr Saito’s fall.
RIP.
Featured image is of the Death Railway in Kanchaburi and is in the public domain
