Swedish tourist tries to kill himself on the day his visa ran out

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Police and rescue services were called to a main road in Phuket where a 57 year old Swedish man was trying to kill himself by darting in front of traffic.

 

His visa was running out and he is now on suicide watch at a hospital.

 

Thalang police, tourist police and staff from a rescue foundation managed to grab him before he got killed in the incident around 2.20 am on Sunday morning.

 

It happened in the Saladaeng area of Thalang district on the Thepkasatree Road. .

 

Pol Col Theerawat Liamsuwan said that the man was subdued before being taken to Thalang Hospital before he was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

 

Vachira Phuket director Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthaphon said that the man was suffering from mental illness.

 

His visa was expiring on Sunday, said the director, so the appropriate authorities in Thailand and the Swedish embassy had been contacted as the man needed in-patient treatment for his mental condition.

 

He is on a suicide watch at the hospital amid fears he will try to take his life.

 

Daily News reported that the story received much attention online with Thais wondering how a "mad foreigner" could be allowed into tourist areas while others speculated he may have been ripped off in some way.

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-02-18

 

The charity Samaritans is available around the clock for people who want to talk.

If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health services, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their 24-hour hotline 02-713-6791 (English), 02713-6793 (Thai) or Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).

http://www.samaritansthai.com/news/samaritans-of-thailand-english-hotline/

Omen of things to come as visas run out of time?  Let's hope not!

Just now, Puchaiyank said:

Omen of things to come as visas run out of time?  Let's hope not!

I think this is more of the problem

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

the man was suffering from mental illness.

rather than any overstay possibilities.

This is not really a good place to be, with such an illness.

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

was trying to kill himself by darting in front of traffic

If he was really trying to kill himself,he would have walked slowly,

but whatever ,pleased he was detained and been taking care of,

might just be a coincidence that his visa was running out,must

be more to this story,hope it all ends well.

regards Worgeordie

most people will troll this guy and his family (indirectly) because they are afraid it might be them next.

 

if super lonely, people look at ways to be mean.  

 

nobody here will give to this guy's fund.

 

this is why it's so dangerous to leave your own country.  no friends, zero.  then people laugh at you when you break down.  

 

 

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thais wondering how a "mad foreigner" could be allowed into tourist areas

Get rid of him! He could ruin the business!

3 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Get rid of him! He could ruin the business!

Unlike mentally ill Thais, who mustnt pose any risk to tourism. Just another example of Thai xenophobia.

Maybe his ex Thai gf will feel sorry for him now and move out from her brother's apartment after the latest fight. 

13 minutes ago, puukao said:

most people will troll this guy and his family (indirectly) because they are afraid it might be them next.

f super lonely, people look at ways to be mean.

nobody here will give to this guy's fund.

this is why it's so dangerous to leave your own country.  no friends, zero.  then people laugh at you when you break down.  

 

 

Well ,no one has trolled this guy or his family , no one is laughing at him and there is no fund set up to give too

Next on immigration's list of things to do to make immigrants feel welcomed...3 copies of a certified letter from your required mental health exam before issuing a long term visa extension.  

 

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Daily News reported that the story received much attention online with Thais wondering how a "mad foreigner" could be allowed into tourist areas while others speculated he may have been ripped off in some way.

 

Not sure why they needed to include random speculation from anonymous people online , with no basis in anything factual 

Pretty selfish and despicable to attempt to make an innocent driver the means of his death.....

50 minutes ago, Pravda said:

Maybe his ex Thai gf will feel sorry for him now and move out from her brother's apartment after the latest fight. 

Yep, how many farang discover they've been paying rent for the Gf's ' loving brother'. Thai girls take old farang for fools leading to suicide or alcoholism.

Edited February 18, 20197 yr by Lucius verus

Must be high......

hope not a sign of things to come

2 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

Yep, how many farang discover they've been paying rent for the Gf's ' loving brother'. Thai girls take old farang for fools leading to suicide or alcoholism.

????

4 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Omen of things to come as visas run out of time?  Let's hope not!

Wow- didn't see that coming as the first comment! ????

Expect the suicide rates to go up soon

5 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Omen of things to come as visas run out of time?  Let's hope not!

No. I offer that he was just another mentally ill foreigner who picked Thailand because of its easy visa requirements. If it wasn't a visa, it would have been one of the other usual reasons the news threads are full of, like his state benefits money not clearing, or his "companion" left him for another customer etc.  The man is mentally ill all by himself. 

26 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Expect the suicide rates to go up soon

Why? A sane and rational person is not going to kill himself over a visa. Anyone at risk, will also be at risk for many other reasons. Thailand is chock full of mentally ill  foreigners. look at the forums and you will see people listing their diagnosed illnesses like  mania, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, depression etc.  

5 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Omen of things to come as visas run out of time?  Let's hope not!

Box on the street of your home country in the rain and snow or death ? Easy choice for some

while others speculated he may have been ripped off in some way.

 

funny how we still come to these conclusions..

err a Thai did it.

 

when in fact the guy was probably just nuts all along

most likely brain damage from constant alcohol addiction. it happens

4 hours ago, sanemax said:

Not sure why they needed to include random speculation from anonymous people online , with no basis in anything factual 

Yes, that occupation is reserved for Thai Visa posters.

What's wrong going back home ?

5 minutes ago, NextStationBangkok said:

What's wrong going back home ?

What's wrong with getting on a bus/plane/boat to Cambodia/Vietnam/Philippines?

Edited February 18, 20197 yr by BritManToo

6 hours ago, vinniekintana said:

I wonder if he ever considered to GET A NEW VISA <deleted>!!!!!

Idiocracy...it's real!

Have you considered that maybe he couldn't...

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Box on the street of your home country in the rain and snow or death ? Easy choice for some

not in Sweden.  

6 hours ago, puukao said:

most people will troll this guy and his family (indirectly) because they are afraid it might be them next.

 

if super lonely, people look at ways to be mean.  

 

nobody here will give to this guy's fund.

 

this is why it's so dangerous to leave your own country.  no friends, zero.  then people laugh at you when you break down.  

I never visited Sweden but I guess it's not so bad that I would prefer death compared to going there.

Lots of people (Thais, farangs, and more) are willing to help others. But running in front of cars in the middle of the night is not the best way to ask for help.

With all of their renowned cradle to grave social security, the land of milk and honey which is Sweden has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe (but not the highest). 

 

Britain (and Italy's) rate, for example, is far lower. 

 

How does one interpret that?

Let's hope he gets the help he needs. These types of incidents are always sad.