Thread: 19-year-old Russian basketball player passes away after getting electrocuted by light

A Russian basketball prodigy raised in Pattaya, Mr. Alexey Sobolev, passed away at the young age of 19 years old after he was electrocuted by a defective lighting pole at a basketball court in the Banglamung district.


Sawang Boriboon rescuers came to Mr. Sobolev’s aide at 10 PM on December 15th when they were notified that the Russian teen passed out after touching a faulty lighting pole.


Mr. Sobolev, a well-respected member of Pattaya’s basketball community, was barely breathing while lying on a basketball court in Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya 15 in front of Pattaya Technical College in Chonburi’s Nong Pla Lai subdistrict. After administering basic life support, the rescuers rushed Mr. Sobolev to the nearest hospital, but unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his wounds and sadly passed away.

One of the many eyewitnesses and friends of the deceased player, Mr. Bodin Thongsuea, 20, told rescuers that Sobolev had gone to fetch a basketball that had bounced away and landed near an iron fence and the deadly power pole. While soaking in sweat, the victim accidentally touched the pole with a power leakage and flopped to the ground, losing consciousness and tragically later passing away.


Friends and people on social media are mourning the loss of the young basketball prodigy. Payu Nerngchamnong, the president of the Ban Bueng Devil Rays Club, posted on their Facebook, “Alex was one of the brightest basketball stars of Chonburi. He had a bright future ahead of him, it was truly tragic what happened to Alex.”


Moreover, netizens are demanding responses and immediate actions from relevant authorities to deter the possible recurrence of a so avoidable tragedy.

19-year-old Russian basketball player passes away after getting electrocuted by lighting pole in Pattaya - The Pattaya News

Pattaya authorities inspect court where Russian basketball prodigy passed away

Following the tragic death of 19-year-old Alexey Sobolev, a Russian basketball player who was electrocuted by a faulty lighting pole, Pattaya authorities inspected the basketball court and temporarily closed it for maintenance.


The inspection on Friday, December 16th, was led by Pattaya deputy mayor Manoch Nongyai. Authorities found that the lighting pole located near a basketball court in Chonburi’s Banglamung district had a power leakage of more than 110 voltage.


Manoch told relevant authorities to consistently inspect electrical wires in the area. He also ordered the court as well as its surrounding areas to be closed for maintenance.

The deputy is working with the Pattaya basketball club to determine an appropriate form of compensation for the victim’s family. The event has greatly ruined Pattaya’s tourism image, especially in terms of safety, commented the deputy.

UPDATE: Pattaya authorities inspect court where Russian basketball prodigy passed away - The Pattaya News

The event has greatly ruined Pattaya’s tourism image, especially in terms of safety, commented the deputy.

Yeah.

And that Thai ladyboy that was electrocuted after sitting down next to a lamppost on a night out in the north a few weeks ago.


Their stupidity really is such that they can provide common everyday objects in public areas with enough electricity to instantly kill adult humans.

Hardly "passed away", more like "killed due to negligence".

What was a Russia basketball "prodigy" doing living and playing in whoreville?, no other country would take him or was Pattaya about as high as his career was going to get.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

What was a Russia basketball "prodigy" doing living and playing in whoreville?

Originally Posted by misskit

A Russian basketball prodigy raised in Pattaya

Right there in the first sentence of the article. Quite a few foreigners raise their kids in Pattaya.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

What was a Russia basketball "prodigy" doing living and playing in whoreville?, no other country would take him or was Pattaya about as high as his career was going to get.

ThaiRath stated he'd been resident in Thailand since 2008, aged five.

His brother, 16, witnessed the electrocution.

Thairath also mentioned that this boy was was the second runner-up in the world in 2018-2019 for Flow Rider Global (surf simulator)


He took up basketball at age 17, 2.10m tall, and played for the Pattaya Basketball Club team and competed in some of Thailand's major 3x3 basketball tournaments.

Originally Posted by pickel

Quite a few foreigners raise their kids in Pattaya.

Mike was raised in the 1870's, such concepts are beyond him.

He took up basketball at age 17, 2.10m tall.

“Alex was one of the brightest basketball stars of Chonburi".

Aye, that would be right.

Anyway, horrible incident. And witnessed by his younger brother, poor lad.

OK lets go again, if your are prodigy at 19 and regardless of the fact you grew up in whoreville surely you'd be looking to develop your career outside Thailand, or is the term prodigy used to mean he's head and shoulders better than the local chickenheads

Originally Posted by malmomike77

OK lets go again...

Nah. Seems obvious that the word 'prodigy' is something of an exaggeration.

Hardly important, in the circs.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

OK lets go again, if your are prodigy at 19 and regardless of the fact you grew up in whoreville surely you'd be looking to develop your career outside Thailand, or is the term prodigy used to mean he's head and shoulders better than the local chickenheads

He was simply a kid who liked basketball and was good at it. Tell you what Mike there are a lot of good Thai pick up ball players. Have you ever been on a court in Thailand? RIP kid.

Originally Posted by aging one

Have you ever been on a court in Thailand?

nah, i last played it as i had to in school, it one of the dullest sports there is so i'd certainly not bother watching a load of amateurs play but you carry on.

the faulty wiring responsible for the death.

s.a.

A sad story but yet another epitaph etched on the headstone of Thai incompetence, stupidity and recklessness.

indeed. and the thais now talk about their own space programme!

Joe90 will be investigating.

After a trip to Maccas.

He might have been safer in The Ukraine.