Massages may be linked to deaths of tourist and singer in Thailand
- A Thai singer, Chayada, experienced severe health issues after multiple massage sessions and eventually died.
- A Singaporean tourist, Lee Mun Tuk, also died after a massage, but the cause is unclear due to lack of autopsy.
- Medical professionals are warning about the risks associated with certain massage techniques, particularly neck massages.
In Thailand, the deaths of a Thai singer and a Singaporean tourist have raised concerns about the safety of massage parlours. The Thai singer, Chayada, reportedly experienced a decline in her health following three massage sessions aimed at alleviating shoulder pain since October. After her first session, she shared on Facebook that she felt bedridden and experienced numbness throughout her body. Health authorities noted that she had received a neck twist and a heavy-handed massage before her condition worsened, eventually leading to her death due to a blood infection and brain swelling. An investigation has been initiated to determine whether her treatments were directly linked to her death or if underlying health issues played a role. Additionally, a Singaporean tourist, Lee Mun Tuk, died shortly after having a 45-minute oil massage in Phuket while on vacation. His wife declined an autopsy, so the definitive cause of his death remains unknown. Medical professionals have urged caution, particularly around neck massages, warning that improper techniques could result in severe consequences, including paralysis, due to the potential for causing harm to blood vessels supplying the brain. Factors such as obesity and high blood pressure have been highlighted as increasing risks for individuals receiving massages, particularly with techniques involving the cervical spine.