A 25-year-old woman from Khon Kaen was left critically injured after falling from the viewpoint at Pattaya’s Big Buddha Hill on Sunday afternoon, with witnesses telling police they saw her climb over a safety barrier before dropping around 10 metres.
Emergency volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre were called to the scene at Wat Phra Yai, at 2.05pm on 26 July.
Rescuers found large numbers of visitors gathered at the popular viewpoint, looking down at the incident. The injured woman, identified as Nuntiyaporn Thongsong, 25, had fallen approximately 10 metres onto the ground below. She suffered a serious head wound, a broken right arm and a fractured left leg.
Rescue workers provided first aid before transferring her urgently to hospital for specialist treatment.
Witnesses describe moments before the fall
One witness, 34-year-old Wasulita Sombunpakorn, told rescuers she had been visiting the viewpoint with her family when she noticed the woman standing near the edge.
According to Wasulita, the woman climbed over the protective railing before dropping to the ground below. She said she immediately covered her young child’s eyes to prevent the child witnessing the incident.
A second witness told authorities the same woman had been seen at the viewpoint in the early hours of the morning. The witness said she appeared to be sitting alone, staring into the distance as though deep in thought before lying down for a period.
When news spread later that someone had fallen from the viewpoint, the witness rushed over and recognised her as the same person.
Investigation continues
Police said the cause of the fall has not yet been established. Their initial assessment is that it may have been an act of self-harm, but officers stressed that the circumstances will only become clearer once the injured woman has recovered sufficiently to be interviewed.
Wat Phra Yai, home to Pattaya’s famous Big Buddha temple and panoramic viewing area, is one of the city’s best-known attractions, drawing both Thai and international visitors throughout the year.
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek help.
Pictures courtesy of Chonburi News
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27 July 2026
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