Big, of boyband D2B, dies after four-year coma

General News : Monday December 10, 2007

Big, of boyband D2B, dies after four-year coma

Hundreds of his fans pack hospital, funeral

SUTTHIWIT CHAYUTWORAKAN

Hundreds of fans of singer ''Big'' from the boyband D2B flocked to Siriraj hospital yesterday to bid farewell to the 25-year-old vocalist, who died of a blood infection after lying comatose for four years.

The hospital ground was packed with young fans who mourned and wept over the death of Paranawat Kittikorncharoen, better known as Big, a member of the boyband trio D2B.

Big was diagnosed with a fungal infection of the brain after dirty water entered his lungs when his car plunged into a roadside ditch in Samut Prakan province on July 22, 2003.

Thousands of fans, mostly teenagers, kept vigil over the pop star at Vichaiyuth hospital for several weeks after his admission following the accident.

Many skipped classes to visit him while some suffered depression, sparking concern among parents.

After a series of brain operations and treatment lasting months, the singer was discharged from hospital and has been nursed by his parents since then.

On Nov 30, Big was admitted to Siriraj hospital for a lung infection, but did not response to treatment and died yesterday, only six days after his family and fans celebrated his 25th birthday.

Udom Kittikorncharoen, Big's father, said he had prepared himself for the loss of his son as his condition had deteriorated.

''We have done our best to take care of him over the past four years,'' he said. Big was a patient under Her Majesty the Queen's patronage.

Woravej Danuwong and Kawee Tanjararak, the other two members of the band, returned from Surat Thani province, where they were on a concert tour, to attend their best friend's funeral at Wat Namdaeng in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district.

The temple was packed with Big's fans and people from the entertainment business. Mourners queued to enter a small pavilion where the body was placed for religious rites.

Police boosted security to provide safety for funeral guests, said Samut Prakan police chief Wittaya Prayongphan.

A 15-year-old girl who travelled from Bangkok to attend the funeral said Big's departure was one of the saddest incidents in her life.

The girl, calling herself Kat, said she had never missed a D2B concert since the band was formed in 2001.

Nichada Jitngamsujarit, 16, also from Bangkok, said she liked all of D2B's songs, but her favourite was Ter Jeb, Chan Jeb (You Hurt, I Hurt).

The song was composed after Big entered a coma, and has become a theme song which Big's fans and the two members of the band sing for him at every concert.

Nareerat Traiyasuth, a 40-year-old fan, said she had followed Big's condition because her 20-year-old daughter was a big fan.

''Now I've become a fan too. I always believed that he would recover and sing again. I never thought that he would die so soon,'' she said.

By : Bangkok Post