Q&A: "Body snatcher"
Q&A: "Body snatcher"
October 24th, 2007
To the Rescue
Kongkrat Ngekhuam doesn’t get much sleep. After finishing a shift at his day job, the 43-year-old is on call as a rescue worker with the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. For over 20 years, he’s been a volunteer “body snatcher.”
What is the hardest thing about being a body snatcher?
It would have to be staying cautious at all times during rescue missions. As much as you’d like to give a hand in critical situations, you also have to know when your safety could be in jeopardy.
How was your first experience on the job like?
It was overwhelming. A man had been run over by a 10-wheeled truck. My legs were shaking and I had difficulty breathing. It was very hard to adjust but after a while I got used to it. All I can think of is being involved and helping out.
So you get used to the job after a while?
I’m very much used to it. After being on the rescue team for over 20 years, it became something normal; just part of my life. At first, I was in fear but it’s like any fear, you have to conquer it, which I did.
What is your salary?
I’m a volunteer so I don’t receive any salary from the foundation, but they do pay for gas, supplies and general maintenance. However I do get some compensation money when I deliver a body to the morgue.
Are you afraid of ghosts?
I’m not sure I understand the meaning of ghosts. It has always been something that the phoo yai scare us with. But I don’t think I’ve ever had any ghost experience—not that I know of anyway. And yet, I always feel like there’s something protecting me when I’m out on a rescue, maybe spirits. From what my friends told me, sometimes they see strange shadows, but I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure.
It’s often said that some “body snatchers” steal valuables from the bodies.
I hear it often too, that things are stolen from the injured or dead. There are a lot of volunteers, a lot of different organizations. Some are sincere, but not all. As for me, I believe that I work with the ghosts, so I wouldn’t steal from them.
Do you cooperate with other organizations or are you competitors?
We are definitely not competitors; we divide up the areas in Bangkok and work together. We don’t benefit from any of this; we are volunteers.
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