Poom Jensen

Who was Poom Jensen?

Poom Jensen, born Bhumi Jensen was a grandson of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, after whom he was named. He was the son of the king's eldest daughter, Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya, and her American husband Peter Ladd Jensen. Khun Poom, as he was commonly known, had autism. Jensen's condition brought about much awareness of autism in Thailand. He attended Kasetsart University Laboratory School in Bangkok.

Jensen became a victim of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, while he and his family were on holiday at the La Flora Resort hotel in Khao Lak, Phang Nga province. He was drowned when the tsunami caused by the earthquake struck the coast of southern Thailand. His body was discovered on the beach the day following the tsunami. His uncle, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, identified the body and piloted the family back to Bangkok. On 30 April 2005, he was given a royal funeral attended by his grandfather the King and virtually every member of the Royal Family. Princess Ubol Ratana established the Khun Poom Foundation in his memory, to aid children with autism and other learning disabilities. She also founded "To Be Number One Project" to campaign against drug usage among teenagers.