Newman Huo

    A THAI national, who was among seven members of a tour group to escape death in Monday’s earthquake in Sichuan Province, said Thursday he was thankful to be still alive.

    Khanit Reunromthawronsom, 43, and his Chinese American girlfriend Mandy Lee flew to Kunming, Yunnan Province, from Chongqing on Thursday while the five other members of the group returned to Shenzhen that day.

    They were previously reported missing after being out of contact following the earthquake.

    “I am so fortunate to be safe after the quake,” Khanit said in a phone interview. “My family back in Thailand were relieved when I called to say I am alive.”

    “I want to express my special thanks to the Shenzhen Daily for closely following our news over the past several days after the earthquake,” he added.

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    Khanit, who has been working as a tour guide in Bangkok for 10 years, arrived in Shenzhen on May 9, where he joined a package tour to Sichuan organized by a Shenzhen travel agency.

    The other five survivors included two Hong Kong residents, Hsu To and Yung Choi-yuk, and Lin Yulian and Lin Jinwen from Dongguan.

    According to Hsu, in his 80s, the seven were about eight kilometers from Yingxiu Township, the epicenter Wenchuan County, when the earthquake struck Monday.

    “We were just passing through a bridge when the earthquake occurred at around 2:28 p.m., and the bridge immediately collapsed after our bus passed,” Hsu said.

    The bus was trapped under a slope after the earthquake.

    They stayed in the bus all Tuesday, waiting for help, but found no one coming to rescue.

    The seven tourists decided to walk back to Dujiangyan the next day.

    They were found by rescuers, who arranged for a bus to take them to Chongqing.

    The Nation, the most influential English daily in Thailand, posted a piece of news about the missing Thai tourist on its Web site Wednesday after Wednesday's Shenzhen. Daily report.