LLOYD: After dark in Bangkok is a time of danger. This thriving metropolis is crowded with a lethal combination of people, bars and cars. Tonight the streets of Thailands capital have claimed yet another victim, a motorcycle cop wedged beneath an eighteen-wheeler. The rescuers jostling to help are volunteers. What they lack in training they make up for with pure grunt. They are the Body Snatchers of Bangkok.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: People are going to start noticing the bodies piling up if someones not taking them away so I think health wise that someones got to do it.
LLOYD: In a country with almost no formal emergency services and two million car accidents a year, the body snatchers fill the gap when tragedy strikes. They rescue the trapped, tend to the injured and minister to the dead.
This is unbelievably gruesome work but these volunteers believe that its actually good for their soul, that it helps build karma to protect them in this life and higher status in their next incarnation. Now while that sounds very high-minded, just a few years ago these people were truly reviled in Thai society. They were renowned for dangerous driving, for fighting amongst themselves over bodies and even stealing valuables from the dead thats how they got the name the body snatchers in the first place.
Then the police launched a crackdown telling them to clean up their act or face being outlawed. They did just that. Now, theyre a far more professional group attracting working men and women, family groups and even celebrity and movie stars to the ranks of the volunteers.
Bin Banloerit and his twin brother Akapan are two of Thailands most popular actors. Today theyre guests on a TV talk show called Back Stabbing Men.
AKAPAN: [On talk show] You can tell the difference between us by our chins mine is cut, and his is like a dimple.
LLOYD: Their work in film and television has brought them riches and fame. This is a heavily costumed Bin playing an Indian King in Oliver Stones Hollywood blockbuster, "Alexander".
[Scene from "Alexander"]
But theres no shortage of real life drama for these twins. In their time off, the brothers go out body snatching. Wherever theres death and disaster on the streets of Bangkok, these famed action heroes are right there in the thick of it. Its a bit like discovering that Russell Crowe moonlights as an ambulance officer.
When other celebrities are heading out to A-list parties, Bin and Akapan are on the lookout for action of a different kind. Their team has just arrived at the scene of a drive-by shooting. Bin gives on the spot reports to local television.
BIN: [To news team at crash site] The victim was shot in the neck. The bullet went through his neck. Looks like one shot at least.
LLOYD: Police are on the scene but the stars of this live TV reality show are the celebrity body snatchers. Also on the team tonight is Kwan, a teen fashion model on her first tour of duty as a volunteer. For her, it is a confronting experience.
KWAN: At first I was wondering how he was, and didnt want to look at him. Then I looked closer. He was just like us. I feel so sorry for him. If I have time, I would like to keep doing this. Its better than going shopping. Its a much better way to spend your time.
LLOYD: The twins send the body off to the morgue and their work is done.
BIN: We like this role better. We are who we are, and we are proud.
AKAPAN: Acting is our job. We have to do that to earn money but for this, we volunteer. We give our time, our heart, and everything to help society.
LLOYD: The brothers are all too aware that in the public mind, reality and fantasy sometimes blur.
BIN: Many people say we are heroes, both on screen and in real life. When things happen they will think of Bin and Akapan. Bin and Akapan will sure be there.
LLOYD: And sure enough, theyre called out again, this time to attend to a motor mechanic who dropped dead at work.
BIN: He has been dead for quite some time. About three hours.
LLOYD: The body snatchers have only basic first aid training but the twins have been volunteering for more than twenty years so theyre trusted to carry out preliminary investigations. Again police are in the background, centre stage belongs to the stars.
BIN: From looking at the body, I think he may have had a heart attack, because he is quite plump.
LLOYD: The presence of our celebrities turns other body snatchers into shameless paparazzi. The sight of well-intentioned amateurs contaminating a possible crime scene might well horrify forensics experts. Even the twins admit that they have unusual authority.
BIN: Normally volunteers cant touch the body. They have to wait for the police. This is the trust we have gained from the public and the police. If we werent movie stars we wouldnt be able to achieve that.
LLOYD: Police havent always been so trusting of body snatchers. Bangkok is home to two separate body snatching organisations. Both are not for profit charities set up originally to provide funeral services for the destitute but as Bangkok modernised in the 70s and 80s, their role grew and so did their rivalry.
Turf wars were common. Photographer Philip Blenkinsop documented this standoff over whod get the kudos and the karma for looking after the charred corpses left by a fiery bus crash.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: So this kind of crazy scene in the middle of the street at night, like 50 or 60 people in a circle pointing fingers at each other and its all about whos getting the corpses basically.
LLOYD: Between emergencies, body snatcher units gather at petrol stations around Bangkok to rest and show off their tricked up trucks and vehicles. They might seem like boys with toys, yet most people regard them not so much as road warriors as angels of mercy.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: Its a kind of dirty work but someones got to do it so they make the best of it. They you know say okay well lets do this and its going to be dirty but they pride themselves on being able to do that, being able to handle it.
LLOYD: Most volunteer body snatchers are working men and women with mundane day jobs like Supaporn Kulpoonsap. She works at a timber shop in Bangkoks Klong Toey slum area. Her brother Nipon works here too and theyre about as far from fame and celebrity as body snatchers get.
For the Kulpoonsaps, body snatching is a family affair.
SUTHIRA: [Talking to young child] Grandma is going out to work tonight, okay? You stay home, all right? Lets go.
LLOYD: Tonight almost the whole clan will hit the road in search of carnage. Their adage? The family that body snatchers together, stays together.
SUPAPORN KULPOONSAP: Its like going out its fun, and at the same time its useful. Its not the same fun as going to a disco.
LLOYD: Hanging out with the Kulpoonsaps is certainly no party. At this accident, a young man who wasnt wearing a helmet has come off his motorbike and died instantly after striking a traffic sign. Despite the gore, this family cant think of anywhere else theyd rather be on a Saturday night.
NIPON KULPOONSAP: We dont get our sleep, and dont get any money from it but we love this and want to help people who are in trouble.
SUTHIRA: The good merit returns to our family. It brings happiness to our family.
LLOYD: Not all volunteers are as trustworthy as the Kulpoonsaps. The body snatchers suffered a massive blow to their reputation in 1991 when they joined local villagers in looting from corpses and luggage after the crash of an Air Lauda flight. Since then, they faced closer police scrutiny and are now far more disciplined.
AKAPAN: The public are very understanding. When they hear a siren they will look, and give way.
LLOYD: But they still drive like men possessed and maybe they are. The Thais believe that by touching a corpse, you run the risk of a ghost entering your body and then there are the more obvious risks.
BIN: It is not that we arent scared. We are. We are concerned that we will become an accident when we rush to help.
LLOYD: But being turned from a body snatcher into a dead body doesnt much concern these dedicated followers of traffic mayhem.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: I dont think these people experience fear at all. I think they just go at it like, and I dont say this in a demeaning way but like full of that, like children, just totally unaware of the possible consequences of their actions. Theyre just caught up it in. They see something and its like we have to do it.
LLOYD: For the body snatchers of Bangkok, the road to Nirvana is paved with deadly collisions.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: People are going to start noticing the bodies piling up if someones not taking them away so I think health wise that someones got to do it.
LLOYD: In a country with almost no formal emergency services and two million car accidents a year, the body snatchers fill the gap when tragedy strikes. They rescue the trapped, tend to the injured and minister to the dead.
This is unbelievably gruesome work but these volunteers believe that its actually good for their soul, that it helps build karma to protect them in this life and higher status in their next incarnation. Now while that sounds very high-minded, just a few years ago these people were truly reviled in Thai society. They were renowned for dangerous driving, for fighting amongst themselves over bodies and even stealing valuables from the dead thats how they got the name the body snatchers in the first place.
Then the police launched a crackdown telling them to clean up their act or face being outlawed. They did just that. Now, theyre a far more professional group attracting working men and women, family groups and even celebrity and movie stars to the ranks of the volunteers.
Bin Banloerit and his twin brother Akapan are two of Thailands most popular actors. Today theyre guests on a TV talk show called Back Stabbing Men.
AKAPAN: [On talk show] You can tell the difference between us by our chins mine is cut, and his is like a dimple.
LLOYD: Their work in film and television has brought them riches and fame. This is a heavily costumed Bin playing an Indian King in Oliver Stones Hollywood blockbuster, "Alexander".
[Scene from "Alexander"]
But theres no shortage of real life drama for these twins. In their time off, the brothers go out body snatching. Wherever theres death and disaster on the streets of Bangkok, these famed action heroes are right there in the thick of it. Its a bit like discovering that Russell Crowe moonlights as an ambulance officer.
When other celebrities are heading out to A-list parties, Bin and Akapan are on the lookout for action of a different kind. Their team has just arrived at the scene of a drive-by shooting. Bin gives on the spot reports to local television.
BIN: [To news team at crash site] The victim was shot in the neck. The bullet went through his neck. Looks like one shot at least.
LLOYD: Police are on the scene but the stars of this live TV reality show are the celebrity body snatchers. Also on the team tonight is Kwan, a teen fashion model on her first tour of duty as a volunteer. For her, it is a confronting experience.
KWAN: At first I was wondering how he was, and didnt want to look at him. Then I looked closer. He was just like us. I feel so sorry for him. If I have time, I would like to keep doing this. Its better than going shopping. Its a much better way to spend your time.
LLOYD: The twins send the body off to the morgue and their work is done.
BIN: We like this role better. We are who we are, and we are proud.
AKAPAN: Acting is our job. We have to do that to earn money but for this, we volunteer. We give our time, our heart, and everything to help society.
LLOYD: The brothers are all too aware that in the public mind, reality and fantasy sometimes blur.
BIN: Many people say we are heroes, both on screen and in real life. When things happen they will think of Bin and Akapan. Bin and Akapan will sure be there.
LLOYD: And sure enough, theyre called out again, this time to attend to a motor mechanic who dropped dead at work.
BIN: He has been dead for quite some time. About three hours.
LLOYD: The body snatchers have only basic first aid training but the twins have been volunteering for more than twenty years so theyre trusted to carry out preliminary investigations. Again police are in the background, centre stage belongs to the stars.
BIN: From looking at the body, I think he may have had a heart attack, because he is quite plump.
LLOYD: The presence of our celebrities turns other body snatchers into shameless paparazzi. The sight of well-intentioned amateurs contaminating a possible crime scene might well horrify forensics experts. Even the twins admit that they have unusual authority.
BIN: Normally volunteers cant touch the body. They have to wait for the police. This is the trust we have gained from the public and the police. If we werent movie stars we wouldnt be able to achieve that.
LLOYD: Police havent always been so trusting of body snatchers. Bangkok is home to two separate body snatching organisations. Both are not for profit charities set up originally to provide funeral services for the destitute but as Bangkok modernised in the 70s and 80s, their role grew and so did their rivalry.
Turf wars were common. Photographer Philip Blenkinsop documented this standoff over whod get the kudos and the karma for looking after the charred corpses left by a fiery bus crash.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: So this kind of crazy scene in the middle of the street at night, like 50 or 60 people in a circle pointing fingers at each other and its all about whos getting the corpses basically.
LLOYD: Between emergencies, body snatcher units gather at petrol stations around Bangkok to rest and show off their tricked up trucks and vehicles. They might seem like boys with toys, yet most people regard them not so much as road warriors as angels of mercy.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: Its a kind of dirty work but someones got to do it so they make the best of it. They you know say okay well lets do this and its going to be dirty but they pride themselves on being able to do that, being able to handle it.
LLOYD: Most volunteer body snatchers are working men and women with mundane day jobs like Supaporn Kulpoonsap. She works at a timber shop in Bangkoks Klong Toey slum area. Her brother Nipon works here too and theyre about as far from fame and celebrity as body snatchers get.
For the Kulpoonsaps, body snatching is a family affair.
SUTHIRA: [Talking to young child] Grandma is going out to work tonight, okay? You stay home, all right? Lets go.
LLOYD: Tonight almost the whole clan will hit the road in search of carnage. Their adage? The family that body snatchers together, stays together.
SUPAPORN KULPOONSAP: Its like going out its fun, and at the same time its useful. Its not the same fun as going to a disco.
LLOYD: Hanging out with the Kulpoonsaps is certainly no party. At this accident, a young man who wasnt wearing a helmet has come off his motorbike and died instantly after striking a traffic sign. Despite the gore, this family cant think of anywhere else theyd rather be on a Saturday night.
NIPON KULPOONSAP: We dont get our sleep, and dont get any money from it but we love this and want to help people who are in trouble.
SUTHIRA: The good merit returns to our family. It brings happiness to our family.
LLOYD: Not all volunteers are as trustworthy as the Kulpoonsaps. The body snatchers suffered a massive blow to their reputation in 1991 when they joined local villagers in looting from corpses and luggage after the crash of an Air Lauda flight. Since then, they faced closer police scrutiny and are now far more disciplined.
AKAPAN: The public are very understanding. When they hear a siren they will look, and give way.
LLOYD: But they still drive like men possessed and maybe they are. The Thais believe that by touching a corpse, you run the risk of a ghost entering your body and then there are the more obvious risks.
BIN: It is not that we arent scared. We are. We are concerned that we will become an accident when we rush to help.
LLOYD: But being turned from a body snatcher into a dead body doesnt much concern these dedicated followers of traffic mayhem.
PHILIP BLENKINSOP: I dont think these people experience fear at all. I think they just go at it like, and I dont say this in a demeaning way but like full of that, like children, just totally unaware of the possible consequences of their actions. Theyre just caught up it in. They see something and its like we have to do it.
LLOYD: For the body snatchers of Bangkok, the road to Nirvana is paved with deadly collisions.