Bangkok - Bangkok police on Monday launched an investigation into a "Fear Factor" stunt gone awry over the weekend that killed a popular Thai pop star.
Pop singer Vaikoon Boonthanom, 22, died from massive brain injuries on Sunday, after being hit on the head by a 20kg barrel while participating in a "Fear Factor" event, named after the US show, at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition centre (Bitec).
Vaikoon had been lowered by a rope to the ground after failing to hold on to a barrel being hoisted up in the air by a crane, when the barrel fell and hit him on the head.
"From the evidence obtained so far it looks like the accident was caused by the carelessness of the crane operator," said Police Colonel Satjapong Woranantrakul, superintendent of Bang Na Police Station.
He added that the operator had failed to arrive for questioning Monday morning.
The weekend event was organised by GMM Grammy, Thailand's biggest entertainment company, for whom Vaikoon was a rising star. - Sapa-dpa