An international sports star has died at the age of 27 as his manager wrote: “Thank you for your smiles, warmth, and the memories you gave us.”
An international ice hockey player has died at the age of just 27, sparking a wave of tributes.
“Tan” Than Chanokchon Limpinphet, also known as Than Koh Tao, made history with Thailand’s national team by winning the World Championship Division 3 Group A and securing promotion. From the age of 20 he competed in international tournaments including the Ice Hockey World Championships, Winter Asian Games and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games – winning gold at the latter tournament in 2019 and silver in 2025.
Thairath Online reported that the young forward drove from Chumphon province to Bangkok and stayed at a home in Bang Bua Thong district on May 15. But in the early hours of May 16, he developed a high fever and took medication to lower it. Later that morning, Chanokchon is said to have gone to buy a watch at the One Bangkok shopping center, but on the way home fell seriously ill and was taken to Kasemrad Hospital.
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Chanokchon’s condition reportedly worsened until his heart stopped on the morning of May 17. Medical staff are said to have performed CPR and used a heart pump machine to try to save him, but he could not be revived and was pronounced dead at midday, with doctors concluding that he died from sepsis.
Mom Luang Krisada Kasemsan, president of the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand, said it was a great loss of an important national athlete with a bright future, who was a key player on the team. He explained how Chanokchon was a role model for discipline in training and maintaining his physical condition for competition.
Mom Luang Krisada said: “The association and all national team athletes have fond memories of Tan because he was well-mannered, friendly, and easy to get along with, making him beloved by everyone on the team.”
Dr Suwanna Silpa-archa, who is manager of the Thai national ice hockey team, president of the Figure and Speed Skating Association of Thailand, and vice president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, posted a tribute online.
She wrote: “Today we have lost ‘Tan,’ who was loved by all of us. Tan will always remain in our memories… Thank you for all the good times, thank you for your smiles, warmth, and the memories you gave us.
“We are all deeply saddened by Tan’s passing and offer our deepest condolences to Tan’s family. We will miss Tan always. Rest in peace, my dear… Tan. With love, Auntie Kae.”
Tan first joined the senior Thai national team at 20 during the 2019 SEA Games. Wearing number 42, he played 54 games with Thailand’s senior men’s national team, scoring 15 goals and 28 points. He also played in Thailand’s top league, the SiamHL from 2016 to 2024, scoring 52 goals and 102 points in 108 games with the teams Aware, the Novotel Spitfires, TRUE, Hertz, SiamMandalay, and KCG.
Ice hockey star Garrett Zemlak wrote online: “He was loved by everyone in the Thai hockey community. He was a very skilled high IQ player with great vision, passing and soft scoring touch in close. R.I.P my friend… gone way too soon.”
A fan added: “Rest in peace, you will be remembered in the hockey family.” Another added: “So young. Tragic.”