Chiang Mai police have arrested a Chinese man who jumped into the Ping River and floated on a buoy under the Nawarat Bridge, causing panic among locals who were on the bridge monitoring the rising water levels.
The Chinese man, who later claimed to enjoy swimming and creating content for the internet, was initially charged with causing a public nuisance and causing fear to others. He was fined and warned not to do it again.
Pol. Col. Prachya Thitla, Superintendent of Chiang Mai City Police Station, said that on the afternoon of October 3, 2024, at the P.1 water level monitoring point on Nawarat Bridge, a man was spotted floating on what was believed to be a foam buoy in the rapid river current.
He was smiling and waving at those who saw him, which alarmed many people who were on the bridge monitoring the rising water levels of the Ping River and thought the man was in trouble of drowning. Alarmed, one river watcher contacted 191 emergency rescues that rushed to the scene.
When the emergency rescue team arrived, they were met by officers from the Chiang Mai police, who had apprehended the man after he swam to safety on the river bank. Emergency rescue workers checked to see if the man had suffered any injuries before police took him into custody.
The man was identified as Mr. Li Ping, an internet content creator from China. He was taken to the Chiang Mai City Police Station and subsequently charged with causing public nuisance and causing fear to others. He was fined 5,000 baht.
Pol. Col. Prachya Thitla of the Chiang Mai City police said Mr. Bin told the arresting officers that he was an internet content creator who committed the act simply because he loves swimming and creates content about playing in the water.
He told police he had done it many times before, most recently on September 25, 2024, during a flooding period.
Mr. Bin was reprimanded and told that his actions were dangerous. His actions caused panic and misunderstandings among the public, and they could also damage the image of tourism in Chiang Mai Province.
Mr. Bin acknowledged the charges and agreed to pay the fine. He said that from now on, he would not create risky content and would not jump into the Ping River to play again.
The Ping River has been continuously rising and is expected to reach its highest level of 4.95 meters tonight. The Royal Irrigation Department has urged residents living near the river to brace themselves for heavy floods, as runoff from upstream tributaries is anticipated to overflow the river.
The Upper Northern Region Irrigation Hydrology Centre in Chiang Mai issued a red alert at 11 a.m. on Thursday, warning people in the downtown Muang district to brace themselves for the Ping River to break its banks.
The alert came as the water level at Nawarat Bridge surged to 3.91 meters at 11 a.m., up from 3.70 meters barely an hour before. The center and concerned residents have closely monitored the Ping River, which is severely swollen by heavy rain.
Geoff Thomas is an award winning journalist known for his sharp insights and no-nonsense reporting style. Over the years he has worked for Reuters and the Canadian Press covering everything from political scandals to human interest stories. He brings a clear and direct approach to his work.
