You’ll find the tragic Phuket ambulance delay has caused widespread outrage after a green taxi blocked an emergency vehicle on the Kamala–Patong Road, despite sirens and lights alerting drivers. The patient, suffering from heart disease, received CPR from his nurse daughter in the ambulance, but was pronounced dead at Patong Hospital around 8:45 AM. Police have charged the taxi driver for obstructing emergency services, and the community’s demanding stricter enforcement and education in response—details about the investigation and its impact follow.
Although ambulances are expected to have clear passage during emergencies, a fatal delay occurred on Phuket’s Kamala–Patong Road in Kathu district when a green taxi refused to yield, blocking an ambulance carrying a patient with a history of heart disease. The incident happened on a Sunday morning, and despite the ambulance’s sirens and flashing lights, the taxi driver didn’t move aside on the narrow road.
A green taxi’s refusal to yield on Kamala–Patong Road fatally delayed an ambulance carrying a heart patient, despite urgent sirens and lights.
Reports about the patient’s age conflicted, with some sources stating 62 years old and others 77, but all confirm that the patient was in critical need of urgent medical care. As the ambulance struggled to get past, the patient’s daughter, a nurse, performed CPR in the back of the vehicle, but the delay proved devastating. The ambulance finally reached Patong Hospital, but the patient was declared dead at approximately 8:45 AM, before life-saving treatment could be administered. Incident resulted in the patient’s death before reaching medical care, underscoring the tragic consequences of delayed emergency response.
This outcome has drawn significant attention to the importance of timely emergency responses and the essential role of prehospital care. Authorities immediately launched an investigation. CCTV and dashboard camera footage were reviewed, and the taxi driver was called in for questioning at Patong Police Station. Charges of obstructing an emergency vehicle and violating patient rights have been filed. The taxi driver faces legal repercussions aimed at enforcing traffic laws for emergency vehicles.
Both Patong Hospital and law enforcement officials are treating the case with urgency, recognizing the need for accountability when emergency procedures are ignored. The incident has sparked widespread outrage throughout Phuket and beyond. Many in the community express concern about the lack of road awareness and the risks posed by drivers who fail to yield to ambulances.
As a result, a public campaign is underway to educate road users about the importance of giving emergency vehicles clear passage. Patong police have announced plans to enhance traffic law enforcement and implement preventive measures, emphasizing compliance with laws that protect lives.
Long-term, this tragedy could lead to regulatory changes and improved safety for emergency response teams. Public education and increased enforcement aim to guarantee such a critical delay never happens again, reinforcing the urgency for every driver to understand their responsibility in emergency situations.
