Pop singer dies when Thai Massage goes wrong after month of agony - Express

[Lauran O'Toole]

The talented star was left paralysed after undergoing a series of neck-twisting massages (Image: Jam Press)

A young pop singer has tragically died after experiencing a months-long worth of agony from having a Thai Massage.

Ping Chayada, 20, was left paralysed after undergoing a series of neck-twisting massages beginning on October 5 in Udon Thani, northeast of Bangkok, Thailand.

The singer hoped the massages would help fix the neck and shoulder pain that she'd been experiencing.

However, just 48 hours later, she experienced pain in her neck again, which she considered to be normal, and so she took pain relief medication.

A week later, Chayada complained of numbness in her arm and returned to the same massage parlour for the second time.


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The singer went through neck-twisting massages beginning on October 5 in Udon Thani. (Image: Getty)

A week later, the singer’s body began to stiffen, with the issue becoming so bad, she couldn't even lie down, reports the Bangkok Post.

Chayada, who has been having massages since childhood, went to the parlour for a third time but was seen by a different masseuse.

Soon after this, the artist started to feel a tingling sensation, itching in her fingers and a numbness in her right leg.

With her symptoms becoming increasingly worse, she went to Piboonrak Hospital for treatment for her neck pain on October 30 and was then referred to Monaghan Hospital.

Chayada was eventually hospitalised between November 6 and 11, and it was here that she turned to Facebook to inform her 22,000 followers about her deteriorating health.

Chayada suffered extreme pain in her neck from having a Thai Massage. (Image: Jam Press)

She said: "The first time I got a massage, my symptoms were normal. I went for another massage, the same therapist in the same room, this time twisting my neck. After two weeks, I started to have very, very tight pain to the point that I couldn't lie on my back or stomach.

"I've been learning massage since I was a child. I really like massage. I thought it was just another side effect of the massage, this kind of body pain. I went again. But this new person massaged hard, and it was swollen and bruised for a week. After that, I took medicine to relieve the symptoms all the time.

"I started to have an electric shock in my fingertips. The right side, I realised, was numb after the third round of massages. After another two weeks, I couldn't lift my right arm."


Chayada revealed that at this point, she was unable to use half of her body, adding that she was in "so much pain" but was determined to recover.

She said: “I want to leave this as a lesson for anyone who really likes massage.

“I will recover. I'm in so much pain. I want to work now. But now I'm just waiting for the right time.”

After a series of examinations, it was discovered that Chayada had suffered from transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder resulting from an inflamed spinal cord.

The singer was given medication and was discharged; however, it was not long before she was back in hospital.

Just a week later, on November 18, she was rushed to hospital after suffering a seizure and more stiffness.


Chayada was transferred to an intensive care unit on November 22, and shortly after, the talented star slipped into a coma.

On December 8, Chayada died from Septicaemia (blood poisoning).

The provincial health chief has since stated that an autopsy is required to uncover the facts that surrounded her death.

He also added that all seven masseuses who worked at the parlour were licensed.

However, the authorities have launched an investigation, raising concerns over whether the massages aligned with traditional Thai massage practice.