A coconut tree being cut down fell onto a boy killing him - before the two workmen fled leaving him for dead.

Nattakrit Plingkratok, nicknamed Frank, 5, was playing in his family's yard while two hired gardeners were chopping the 50ft-tall tree in Surin province on April 21 evening.

However, the heavy tree trunk toppled over and crushed the youngster to death as he was walking to the kitchen.

Frank was rushed on a motorcycle to the Rattanaburi Hospital. He was later referred to the Surin Hospital, but tragically succumbed to his serious injuries.

The family are now searching for the two workers who fled the scene on a motorbike. They said they had hired them to cut the tree fearing it would topple onto their home during the coming rainy monsoon season.

Frank's mum Kanjana said: 'During the incident, I was cooking inside the kitchen around 30 feet away from the coconut tree. Frank was walking toward me, but I couldn't hear him because of the loud chainsaw.

'I went back inside to grab something, so Frank was left alone. That was when the tree fell on top of him. It was being cut by the workers.'

The boy's father Sarayut Plingkratok, 40, said the workers had first trimmed the tree's fronds before hacking off the trunk.

He said: 'They didn't put a warning mark to show where the tree might fall. Their carelessness cost my son his life.'

'They are cowards, too. They should have stayed and took responsibility but they ran away.'

Frank's grandmother Home Sopha, 64, said: 'The workers did not seem to know what they were doing. There were no safety ropes or marks to help control the tree's fall. They were shameless, leaving my grandson to die while they escaped.'

A police spokesman said they have identified both workers are requesting arrest warrants for them.