Thai waitress thanks people of Cork for support

A THAI waitress living in Cork who lost her brother in the Asian tsunami disaster has thanked the people of the city for their support.

Pennapa Wongsuwan, 33, has been living in Cork for the past 13 years.

Originally from Bangkok, Ms Wongsuwan said she was very moved by the show of compassion and support from Cork people since she learned of her brother’s tragic death.

The body of her brother, a father-of-three, who was on a fishing trip when the tsunami struck, has not been yet identified, but his family believe he drowned in the tidal waves.

Staff and customers at Scoozi’s restaurant in Cork’s city centre, where Ms Wongsuwan works, have offered to buy her a plane ticket home.

“In work I am kept busy and surrounded by friends. They are my second family. I don’t know how I would have coped without them,” she said.

“I am the baby of my family and all I have left is my mother and my sister along with my little nieces and nephews,” she said.

“We are a very close family and my mother is devastated at Sawad’s death. I just hope 2005 is a better year for us,” she said.

Five years ago she lost her father to cancer. Three months later, a second tragedy struck the family when another brother was fatally electrocuted in an accident.

Ms Wongsuwan is planning to return to Thailand in the coming months.

Scoozi’s restaurant staff have already raised 2,400 for the Red Cross Asia Tsunami Appeal after donating part of their wages and tips.