Fitness Coach Po Apologises After Bangkok Pool Incident with Child

Fitness coach Po — the face behind a popular training page — has publicly admitted to an incident at a Bangkok pool that has since rippled across social media. In a frank statement, Po said he lightly disciplined a child with a fingertip after seeing the boy step on his diving fins; he expressed regret, accepted responsibility, and has repeatedly offered apologies and compensation while the case moves through police channels.

The episode took place on November 30 at about 4:30pm near a swimming pool where Po had just finished a diving session. Two boys were playing close to his equipment. According to Po’s account, the younger child, wearing an orange shirt, stepped on Po’s diving fins and waved a foam noodle toy nearby — behavior Po found disrespectful and potentially damaging to his gear.

Po says he first tried to correct the younger boy verbally. When the child did not apologise, Po admits he used the tip of a fingertip to tap the boy “lightly” to teach him a lesson. He has repeatedly insisted the action was not meant to harm the child, but to instruct him gently.

After the interaction, Po reports only the older boy in a black shirt apologised. The younger boy, Po says, smiled and scratched his head. Both children left the area without outward signs of distress.

Wanting to clear the air, Po set out to find the children’s parents. When he located the boys again, he escorted them to the pool reception to ask about their guardians. At that point a male guardian arrived and, according to Po, said he intended to press charges. Po acknowledged his actions but also told reporters he was upset about his damaged equipment — an element that, while less central than the welfare of the child, factored into the confrontation.

By 7:30pm the same day, Po received a call from Thong Lo police station and provided an official statement. He told police he was willing to mediate with the parents and to make amends, but noted the parents were not ready to engage in mediation at that time. Po says he has consistently offered to apologise, provide compensation, and cover any medical expenses should they be necessary; his account has been recorded with the police.

On December 2 Po noticed the story gaining traction online and said some reports sensationalised details. To prepare a full explanation and to step back from the online storm, he temporarily deactivated his social media accounts. When no contact was forthcoming from the family for mediation, Po returned to the police station on December 6 and reiterated his offers of compensation, medical expense coverage, and an apology post on his Facebook page.

Reflecting publicly on the episode, Po acknowledged his behaviour was inappropriate, especially given his visibility as a popular coach. He stressed that using force to resolve conflict was the wrong path and advocated peaceful dialogue instead. “I did not intend to hurt the child,” he said, while also accepting responsibility and expressing a desire to set a positive example going forward, according to Khao Sod’s report.

This story highlights a knot of issues that often surface when private incidents become public: the lines between discipline and harm, the expectations placed on public figures, and the speed at which social media can amplify a moment into a national conversation. For Po, the immediate steps have been admission, apology, and an appeal to resolve matters through the police and directly with the family.

Whether the parties reach a negotiated resolution or the case proceeds through formal channels, the episode serves as a reminder that those in the public eye are held to a higher standard — and that even a brief lapse in judgment can have outsized consequences. For now, Po has signalled his willingness to make amends and to learn from the incident, while authorities and the family determine the next steps.

Image credit: iStock