To elaborate on the superstitiousness of dying in the ring, the Thais are wary of absolutely any violent death, and will do their best to avoid coming in contact with any victim of a violent death. The reason being is that the spirit of someone who has died violently is also violent and malicious and seeks to harm.
Over Songkran, there were many deaths here in Chiang Mai. One in particular saw a man beaten to death by a gang of thugs, two of which smashed his head open with whiskey bottles. Nobody would even attempt any type of first aid, he simply laid in a puddle of his own blood. When the ambulance finally made it to him, they just threw a sheet over him, and into the back he went. |