A 44-year-old man has died after accidentally consuming toilet cleaner that he mistook for a soft drink while recovering from a hangover in Thailand. The tragic incident occurred on Monday, October 13, in Buriram province and has since sparked warnings from health authorities about the dangers of storing hazardous chemicals in drink containers.
The victim, identified as Nattawut, reportedly came across a bottle filled with a clear liquid that he assumed was a beverage. Unaware of its true contents, he drank from it and soon began to experience dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Alarmed by his rapidly worsening condition, his relatives rushed him to Satuek Hospital in the Satuek district for medical attention.
Upon examination, doctors discovered that the liquid he had ingested was not a beverage but an acidic toilet cleaner commonly used for rust removal. The hospital provided immediate treatment, including an injection and medication, and Nattawut’s condition initially appeared to improve. He was subsequently discharged with instructions for his family to monitor his symptoms closely.
However, only five hours after returning home, Nattawut’s health took a severe turn for the worse. He went into septic shock and despite efforts by medical personnel to resuscitate him, he did not survive.
Following his death, Nattawut’s relatives questioned the hospital’s decision not to perform gastric lavage, commonly known as stomach pumping, to remove the substance from his system. Responding to the concerns, Dr. Pichet Phuedkhuntod, Chief of the Buriram Provincial Public Health Office, explained that the chemical consumed was highly acidic. Performing a gastric lavage, he said, could have caused the acid to flow back into the oesophagus, leading to perforation or severe internal infection — a risk that outweighs the potential benefit of the procedure.
Dr. Pichet noted that Nattawut had shown temporary signs of recovery before his condition deteriorated unexpectedly. He added that the public health office would extend support to the victim’s family and initiate checks on household chemical storage practices in the community.
Authorities have since urged the public to avoid keeping dangerous chemicals in containers resembling those used for beverages. Officials stressed that proper labeling and storage are vital to prevent further tragedies of this kind, which continue to claim lives due to avoidable human error.
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