A Danish tourist was seriously injured after a large pine branch fell and pierced his leg while he was jogging along Phala Beach in Rayong on 23 May, local media reports .
The victim, identified as a 67-year-old man from Denmark, was reportedly exercising on a beachside walkway in Ban Chang district when the branch suddenly broke off from a tree and struck him.
Local rescue workers and medical staff from Ban Chang Hospital provided first aid at the scene before transporting him to hospital for further treatment. Thai media reported that part of the branch pierced through his left side and thigh.
Witnesses said the area is lined with aging pine trees, some of which appear dead or unstable. Local residents and vendors have since called on authorities to inspect and remove dangerous branches to prevent similar accidents.
Following the incident, local officials said the municipality would investigate the cause and consider trimming or removing deteriorating trees along the beach walkway.
Several similar tree-related accidents have been reported in Thailand in recent years, including fatal incidents involving foreign tourists in Phuket and Koh Hey.
