National —
Thai Interior Minister Anutin Charnveerakul piloted his own private jet on Sunday to transport a heart surgeon from Bangkok to the northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon for an urgent heart donation mission.
According to reports from Thai media, Mr. Anutin, who also used to serve as the Public Health Minister, flew Dr. Patchara Ongcharit, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon from Chulalongkorn Hospital, and a medical team to Sakon Nakhon Hospital in the Mueng Sakon Nakhon district early in the morning on November 26th. Their mission was to perform an organ retrieval from a brain-dead patient who had previously consented to organ donation.
The minister and the medical team’s journey in Anutin’s private jet resulted in a successful retrieval of vital organs, including the heart, kidney, and eyes, which will be used to save the lives of other patients.
During the surgery, it was revealed that Anutin met with the deceased’s relatives to offer support and condolences for their loss. He extended his gratitude to the deceased individual for their selfless decision to donate organs.
Anutin has been piloting his private plane in support of medical teams engaged in organ transportation across various regions of the country since 2014. This initiative, named by Thai media as the ‘Winged Heart Operation,’ involves facilitating urgent operations that commercial flights or other means of transport cannot accommodate. Over the years, Anutin has successfully conducted over 50 flights.
Correction notice: This article incorrectly stated that the aircraft used by Mr. Charnvirakul is a jet. It is actually an aircraft with a turbo-propellar.
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