Apichet Kittikorncharoen ( th, อภิเชษฐ์ กิตติกรเจริญ; , name later changed to Panrawat (), 2 December 1982 – 9 December 2007) was a Thai singer known under the stage name Big D2B. He studied

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

Bangkok University University (BU; th, มหาวิทยาลัยกรุงเทพ; ), commonly known as Mo Krung Thep ( th, มอกรุงเทพ), has operated since 1962, is one of the oldest and largest private, non-profit universities in ...

and was part of RS Promotion's trio boy band D2B. On 22 July 2003, a car accident in which he fell into a polluted Bangkok ''

khlong A ''khlong'' ( th, คลอง, ), alternatively spelt as ''klong'' () commonly refers to a canal in Thailand. These canals are spawned by the rivers Chao Phraya, Tha Chin, and Mae Klong, along with their tributaries particularly in the low-ly ...

'' (canal) resulted in severe brain infection with multiple organisms including the ''

Pseudallescheria boydii ''Pseudallescheria boydii'' is a species of fungus classified in the Ascomycota. It is associated with some forms of eumycetoma/ maduromycosis and is the causative agent of pseudallescheriasis. Typically found in stagnant and polluted water, it ...

'' fungus, which, despite efforts to treat him including four brain operations and medicine flown in from Australia, caused extensive damage to his brain. He remained in coma for four years before finally succumbing to the illness. Apichet's case, which saw throngs of fans hoping and praying for him at the hospital as well as intense media attention, helped raise awareness about the hazardous nature of Bangkok's water pollution. His funeral was held for 100 days from the end of 2007 to March of the next year, and was patronised by

Queen Sirikit Queen Sirikit ( th, สิริกิติ์; ; ); born ''Mom Rajawongse'' Sirikit Kitiyakara ( th, สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; ; 12 August 1932) is the queen mother of Thailand. She was Queen of Thailand as the wif ...

Post-D2B era

Big’s brain disease in 2004 have made the renaming of “D2B” to “Dan-Beam” in 2005 because Worrawech Danuwong (Dan) and

Kawee Tanjararak Kawee Tanjararak ( th, กวี ตันจรารักษ์ or Beam) is a Thai singer and actor, who was a member of the Thai boy band D2B which also included Worrawech Danuwong and Panrawat Kittikorncharoen. After his contract with RS ...

(Beam) was active during that period until it was disbanded in 2007 following Big’s death, and D2B is no more.

References

Apichet Kittikorncharoen 1982 births 2007 deaths Apichet Kittikorncharoen Infectious disease deaths in Thailand {{Thailand-singer-stub