Thai politician Chonsawat Asavahame dies of heatstroke in Buri Ram

Well-known politician from Samut Prakan province, Chonsawat Asavahame, died early this morning at a hospital in Buri Ram province.

The 55-year-old politician and former mayor of the Samut Prakan Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) collapsed, reportedly due to heatstroke, as he was practicing driving at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Sunthorn Pansaengthong, a member of the Samut Prakan Progressive Group, said that Chonsawat was pronounced dead at 1.15am this morning. His body will be returned to his home in Samut Prakan, where a bathing rite is scheduled for 4pm, followed by a funeral ceremony which will last for seven days.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he was at the hospital with Newin Chidchob, de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, and other close friends and relatives of Chonsawat, until the politician was pronounced dead.

Chonsawat is the son of Vatana Asavahame, a former deputy interior minister who is currently living in exile in Cambodia to evade a jail term imposed by the Criminal Court for his involvement in corruption in a multi-billion baht waste water treatment project in Samut Prakan.