Poom Jensen

Poom Jensen (Thai: พุ่ม เจนเซน; rtgs: Phum; 16 August 1983 – 26 December 2004), born Bhumi Jensen (also spelled Poomi Jensen,Thai: ภูมิ เจนเซน; rtgs: Phum) 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 Ubolratana Rajakanya, and her American (former) husband Peter Ladd Jensen.

Life

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 drowned after being struck by the tsunami on 26 December 2004, while he and his family were on holiday at the La Flora Resort hotel in Khao Lak. 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.