Udon Thani-
The Udon Thani Provincial Public Health Office has officially released the autopsy results concerning the untimely death of 20-year-old Thai pop singer Chayada Prao-hom, known affectionately in Thailand as Ping Chayada. Chayada passed away early on December 8th, 2024, after a series of complications following massage treatments in Udon Thani.
According to Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatwela, the provincial health chief, the autopsy confirmed that Chayada died from septicemia, commonly known as blood poisoning. The examination was prompted by the need to understand the exact cause of her rapid health decline, which was originally allegedly linked to intense massage sessions she sought for shoulder and neck pain.
Chayada visited a local massage parlor three times starting in early October, as we reported here. The first session allegedly included neck-twisting techniques, after which she experienced severe neck pain. Subsequent sessions led to progressive symptoms, including arm numbness, overall body stiffness, and ultimately, paralysis. She was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the spinal cord, which was not initially connected to her neck pain.
Chayada’s condition worsened significantly; she experienced a seizure on November 18, necessitating emergency hospital care. She was admitted to the ICU at Udon Thani Hospital on November 22, where she later succumbed to the blood infection.
The autopsy findings revealed no cervical bone fractures or dislocations, thereby ruling out direct physical trauma from the massages as the cause of death. Instead, the blood poisoning, potentially worsened by her bedridden state and the complications from transverse myelitis, was identified as the primary cause.
Dr. Somchaichote noted that while the massages might not have directly caused her death, the sequence of events following the treatments could have contributed to her health’s rapid decline. He stressed the importance of an autopsy in such cases to provide clarity and closure to the family and to understand any preventive measures that could be taken in similar situations.
Additionally, the massage parlor where Chayada received her treatments was reported to employ licensed therapists, but questions remain about whether the techniques used adhered strictly to traditional Thai massage standards. Meanwhile, representatives from the Thai massage industry have stressed that the industry is safe and responded to concerns officially.
Chayada’s family, after discussions, decided against requesting a further autopsy, focusing instead on mourning and preparations for Chayada’s cremation.
