Horror in ancient Ayutthaya as a huge tree crashes onto Spanish tourists, injuring four. A 55-year-old man suffers broken ribs and a double leg fracture, while police find a hollow, deteriorated base despite calm weather at the site.
A Spanish family’s Sunday tour of ancient Ayutthaya turned into a nightmare when a huge tree crashed onto their path at Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Four tourists were injured, including 55-year-old Javier de Esteban Lucea, who suffered broken ribs and two fractures to his left leg. Yet there was no heavy rain or strong wind when the tree suddenly failed. Instead, police found a hollow, deteriorated base as rescuers pulled casualties from the debris. The accident has now triggered a wider inspection of large trees across Ayutthaya’s historic sites.
Four Spanish tourists were injured on Sunday when a huge tree suddenly crashed down inside Ayutthaya Historical Park. One man suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs and two fractures to his left leg. Three Spanish women were also hurt and required hospital treatment. Notably, there was no heavy rain or strong wind when the tree came crashing down.
The accident happened at approximately 12.30 pm on August 16 beside the ancient Wat Phra Si Sanphet archaeological site. More precisely, the tree fell across a pedestrian walkway close to Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit. Both attractions stand within Ayutthaya Historical Park in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district. Therefore, the accident happened deep inside one of Ayutthaya’s busiest historic tourism zones.
The most seriously injured tourist was identified as Javier de Esteban Lucea, 55, a Spanish national. He suffered fractures to ribs on his right side. In addition, his left leg was fractured in two places. Emergency personnel rushed him to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital for urgent treatment.
Three Spanish women hurt as family group of up to 20 is caught beneath falling tree in Ayutthaya
Meanwhile, three Spanish women travelling with him suffered less serious injuries. Initial accounts described their injuries as minor, although other reports classified some as moderate. Nevertheless, emergency personnel transported all three to the same hospital. No deaths were reported following the dramatic midday accident.
The four casualties belonged to a larger Spanish family group touring the ancient Thai capital. Initial inquiries placed the party at approximately 15 people. Separately, some police accounts put the wider group at between 15 and 20 visitors. They were walking beside Wat Phra Si Sanphet when the large tree suddenly broke.
Within seconds, its trunk and heavy branches crashed across the walkway occupied by the Spanish family. Four members of the party were struck or trapped beneath branches and tree debris. Thai and foreign tourists were also nearby when the tree came down. The sudden collapse caused alarm around the ancient monument as emergency services were called.
Pol Lt Col Manoch Rittipoon received the report at approximately 12.30 pm. He is an investigator attached to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Police Station. In response, police immediately coordinated a rescue operation involving foundations and hospital medical personnel. Teams were sent directly into the historical park.
Rescuers race to ancient Ayutthaya site and pull four injured Spanish tourists from fallen branches
Volunteers from the Phutthaisawan Foundation were among those dispatched. At the same time, Ruam Katanyu Foundation personnel raced towards Wat Phra Si Sanphet. An emergency medical team from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital also responded. On arrival, rescuers found members of the Spanish family lying among heavy branches and debris.
Kittisak Mathong, an officer with the Ruam Katanyu Foundation, later described the emergency response. His team received a report that foreign tourists had been struck by a large fallen tree. Consequently, rescuers immediately headed towards the archaeological site. There, they found Spanish visitors lying on the ground beneath fallen branches.
The rescuers first had to clear the tree debris surrounding the injured tourists. Heavy branches had fallen across the area and blocked access to some casualties. As part of the operation, workers pulled away branches while medical teams assessed the injured. The four tourists were then extracted and prepared for transportation.
Mr de Esteban Lucea quickly emerged as the most serious casualty. The impact had fractured ribs on his right side. Furthermore, his left leg had sustained two separate fractures. Emergency personnel stabilised him before rushing him to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital.
The three women were also removed from the affected walkway. Their injuries were considerably less severe than those suffered by Mr de Esteban Lucea. However, all three required hospital examination and treatment. Rescue personnel therefore transported them to the same provincial hospital.
Police find hollow, deteriorated tree base after giant tree falls without heavy rain or strong winds
Once the casualties were removed, police secured the walkway and began examining the fallen tree. The weather immediately became an important element of the investigation. Significantly, there had been no heavy rain around Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Investigators also reported no strong winds when the tree suddenly failed.
Instead, the first inspection revealed physical deterioration around the tree’s base. Reports identified it as a large peacock-flower tree. Investigators found a hollow section together with visible signs of breakage. Accordingly, attention quickly shifted towards the age and physical condition of the tree.
Officials began examining whether deterioration had weakened the massive tree before Sunday’s collapse. In particular, investigators focused on the hollow area around its base. Internal decay was also being considered during the initial examination. However, police had not established the definitive cause by Sunday afternoon.
The damaged base may have reduced the tree’s ability to support its considerable weight. Nevertheless, officials require further examination before making a final determination. Police and other relevant officials therefore continued investigating the precise circumstances surrounding the sudden collapse.
Chainsaw crews clear fallen tree as police and Tourist Police assist injured Spanish family members
In parallel, emergency crews moved quickly to secure the affected section of the historical park. Workers brought chainsaws onto the site after the casualties were removed. They cut through heavy branches and sections of the fallen tree. Subsequently, crews cleared large pieces of debris from the tourist walkway.
Police investigators remained at the scene while the clearance operation continued. Tourist Police officers also arrived and began assisting the Spanish visitors. Their work included coordinating with relatives and other members of the travelling group. Officials also maintained contact with the hospital treating the four casualties.
News of the accident initially spread through a report on the JS100 Radio Facebook page. The bulletin said a tree had fallen within the historic temple grounds. It also reported several tourists injured in the area. Later, emergency services confirmed four casualties, all of them Spanish nationals.
The location made the accident particularly prominent among visitors to the former Thai capital. Wat Phra Si Sanphet stands at the heart of Ayutthaya’s former royal centre. The temple formed an important part of the royal complex during the Ayutthaya period. Today, its surviving chedis and ruins are among the historical park’s leading attractions.
Spanish family struck beside five-century-old Wat Phra Si Sanphet in busy Ayutthaya historical park
The site’s history stretches back roughly five centuries. Moreover, it forms part of the UNESCO-listed Historic City of Ayutthaya. Large numbers of Thai and international visitors regularly move through its archaeological zones. The nearby Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit also draws heavy tourist traffic.
Sunday’s Spanish family was walking through this central historic area before the accident. Their group had been moving along the pedestrian route beside Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Suddenly, the huge tree broke and fell directly across their path. Four family members were unable to escape the falling branches.
Later on Sunday, Ayutthaya Governor Chawanin Wongsatitjirakal was briefed about the accident and casualties. He subsequently travelled to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital. There, he visited the injured tourists and monitored their medical condition. He also ordered provincial agencies to assist the Spanish family.
In particular, the Provincial Tourism and Sports Office was assigned to follow the case closely. Tourist Police were instructed to coordinate with the injured visitors and their relatives. Additionally, provincial personnel were ordered to support other members of the Spanish travelling party.
Ayutthaya governor visits injured tourists before ordering wider safety checks at historic monuments
Mr Chawanin also instructed the hospital director to facilitate medical care for all four casualties. Afterwards, provincial attention shifted back towards the accident scene. The governor ordered officials to examine safety conditions surrounding other historic monuments in Ayutthaya.
On another front, the response will now extend beyond Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Arborists are to inspect large trees throughout archaeological and tourist areas. Ayutthaya Historical Park officials will participate alongside provincial environmental personnel. The teams will assess the condition and structural strength of mature trees.
Specifically, inspectors will look for hollow sections, deterioration and other physical weaknesses. They will also identify potentially dangerous trees beside heavily used tourist routes. The wider inspection follows the discovery of substantial deterioration around Sunday’s fallen tree.
At the same time, officials continued examining the immediate area surrounding the accident. The lack of severe weather remained a key element of the investigation. There had been no heavy rain before the tree fell. Likewise, police found no reports of strong winds around the historical park.
Arborists to inspect large trees across Ayutthaya as police focus on decay and absence of severe weather
Instead, the physical condition of the tree remained at the centre of the inquiry. Its base contained a hollow section and signs of deterioration. Investigators also identified visible breakage around the lower section. However, no final conclusion had been reached on exactly why it collapsed.
By Sunday afternoon, all four Spanish casualties had received hospital treatment. Three women suffered substantially less serious injuries. Mr de Esteban Lucea remained the most seriously injured member of the family group. He had fractured right ribs and two fractures to his left leg.
Meanwhile, workers had completed the immediate clearance operation beside Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Chainsaw teams cut apart the fallen tree and removed large branches from the walkway. Police continued examining the site while Tourist Police assisted the Spanish family.
Provincial officials also began preparations for wider tree inspections across Ayutthaya’s historic areas. The checks will focus on mature trees around archaeological monuments and heavily used visitor routes. Inspectors will particularly examine trees showing hollowing, decay or structural deterioration.
The accident unfolded within seconds during an otherwise routine family visit to the ancient capital. Around 15 Spanish visitors were walking through the archaeological site when the tree suddenly gave way. Four members of the group were caught beneath its branches and debris.
Police probe tree failure as wider inspections target decay around Ayutthaya’s ancient tourist sites
One suffered serious injuries, while three others required hospital treatment. Yet the collapse came without the heavy rain or strong winds normally associated with falling trees. Instead, investigators found deterioration, hollowing and breakage around the base.
Police must now establish precisely why the large peacock-flower tree suddenly failed. At the same time, provincial teams will inspect other mature trees across Ayutthaya’s archaeological areas. The investigation remained underway on Sunday afternoon.
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For the Spanish family, their visit to the ancient capital ended abruptly inside Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital. Mr de Esteban Lucea suffered fractured ribs and a double fracture of his left leg. Three female relatives were also injured in the collapse.
However, no fatalities had been reported by Sunday afternoon. Police remained focused on the tree’s condition and the absence of severe weather. The final cause of its sudden collapse beside the 500-year-old historic site had yet to be established.
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