A schoolboy was killed when a set of goalposts he was hanging from collapsed in Thailand.

Thanakrit Sukseethong, 9, was playing with his friends on the football field after lunch at the Ban Ao Nam Bo School in Phuket on December 17.

The youngster swung on the rusty goalpost crossbar but it toppled over and hit him on the head.

Thanakrit's friends called the teachers upon seeing him unconscious and bleeding on the grass. The boy was rushed to the Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he died of severe injuries.

Police Lieutenant Porachaya Seeyom of the Wichit Police Station said police were notified at 12:10 pm.

The officer said: 'An investigation of the scene found that the base of the goalpost was not properly anchored. The screws were already rusty.'

Arunee Itsarachote, 47, a teacher at the school, said she was the first to respond to the accident.

She said she was just about to eat lunch when a student ran and told her Thanakrit was injured.

She said: 'He had a large wound on his head. I tried to stop the bleeding with a handkerchief, but there was just too much blood.

'I held his hand and asked if he could hear me. He briefly squeezed my hand and coughed up blood before letting go. I feel sad about his death. He was like a son to me.'

Thanakrit's older brother Natthapon Salee, 24, said the school informed the family of the accident shortly before the boy passed away. He added that the family were devastated by his sudden passing.

He said: 'Nine years old is too young to die. I cannot accept it. My grandmother and parents cannot accept it. We thought he would be safe since he was just staying in school.'

The family have received 145,000 baht (3,400 GBP) in insurance and compensation from school and district education officials.

Authorities said an investigation committee will be investigating the case.

On February 4, a female footballer Wanwipha, 27, was killed while playing volleyball with her friends at an outdoor court in Samut Prakan province.

She swung from a goalpost, only for it to tip over and crush her windpipe.

(1 GBP = 43.51 THB)