Canadian Tourist Dies After Slipping on Stairs at a Jomtien Beach Resort

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

A Canadian tourist lost his life after slipping on a staircase and hitting his head on a statue at a resort on Jomtien Beach, Chonburi.

 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuttarak Sornkamhan of Pattaya City Police Station received a report on the early evening of December 4 about the fatal incident. Authorities and rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation promptly arrived at the scene.

 

The victim, identified as 66-year-old Canadian Shirou Gilbert, was found lying face down at the bottom of the resort’s staircase. His head had struck the edge of a statue of a traditional dancer, positioned near the second step. Despite rescue efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Resort staff confirmed that Gilbert had checked into the resort on December 2 and was scheduled to check out on December 9. Before the fall, he was seen leaving the resort, possibly for a workout. Upon returning, as he ascended the stairs with three steps leading to the resort, he lost his footing, fell, and struck his head on the statue, resulting in his death.

 

In an initial investigation, officers found three suitcases in his room on the 9th floor, containing clothes, personal items, and a laptop with a charger. A box of medication and syringes was also discovered on a shelf near the refrigerator, suggesting he may have been undergoing treatment or had a medical condition. Authorities have collected the medication for further examination.

 

Currently, the resort’s security footage has not been reviewed, as the staff responsible for monitoring it is out of town. The body has been sent to Bang Lamung Hospital for an autopsy. Police are also in contact with the victim’s family to inform them of the event.

 

-- 2024-12-05

 

 

[scubascuba3]

What a freak accident 

[watchcat]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

What a freak accident 

 

Maybe he had a stroke, no medicine helps aginst that, loss of balance is one thing

[scubascuba3]

11 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Maybe he had a stroke, no medicine helps aginst that, loss of balance is one thing

Hitting his head on the statue appears to be the killer

[PJ71]

Life is fragile!!!

[dddave]

I Have arthritic knees.  Going up and especially down stairs is always a challenge, made much more difficult in Thailand by a scarcity of properly placed handrails. Looking at the photo of the scene of the unfortunate man's fall, I see no visible handrail on the steps from which he reportedly fell.  

The near complete lack of any kind of liability in Thailand for such lapses does not encourage building owners to consider such necessities.  Not just small businesses.  I've had to negotiate long flight's of stairways with no handrails in many public buildings, especially banks which seem to feel the need for magisterial stairways leading to their portals.

I hate the need for a cane but sometimes it's a lifesaver descending long staircases, especially those at various Bangkok BTS stations. Going downstairs, one is fighting gravity all the way and with nothing to hold onto, it can be a perilous journey.

[BigStar]

1 hour ago, dddave said:

I hate the need for a cane but sometimes it's a lifesaver descending long staircases, especially those at various Bangkok BTS stations

 

Isn't there an elevator at most BTS stations?

 

[BigStar]

Unfortunate accident. Preventable, though.

 

He was of an age where the consequences of a possible fall has to be taken quite seriously.

 

In 2020, 42 114 deaths in the US were related to falls, with 86% occurring among adults aged 65 years or older.1 Falls are the leading cause of injury and among the leading causes of death among older adults in the US.

    --Trends in Deaths From Falls Among Adults Aged 65 Years or Older in the US, 1999-2020

 

Seniors should actively work on their balance. Lots youtube vids w/ exercises.

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=exercises+for+balance+and+stability+for+seniors

 

Regular exercise on side stepper would be helpful.

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/tag/side-stepper/?q=side+stepper&_keyori=ss&sugg=side+stepper_1_1&catalog_redirect_tag=true

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 hours ago, BigStar said:

 

Isn't there an elevator at most BTS stations?

 

 

Not all of them, and often they are out of order or kept locked by the security.

[hotchilli]

What a freak way to go... 

RiP fella, I hope you got to enjoy something while you were here.

[jacko45k]

19 hours ago, dddave said:

I hate the need for a cane but sometimes it's a lifesaver descending long staircases, especially those at various Bangkok BTS stations. Going downstairs, one is fighting gravity all the way and with nothing to hold onto, it can be a perilous journey.

More close to home, getting into The Bangkok Bank Branches..... particularly the one on second near soi 6!

[gargamon]

They probably had just washed the stairs and they sere still wet. That slippery when wet tiling should be outlawed.

[watchcat]

On 12/4/2024 at 11:13 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Hitting his head on the statue appears to be the killer

 

But perhaps of the fall?

Edited 23 hours ago by watchcat

[iLuvThai]

I know you guys don't like to be reminded of this but it's my duty as a Christian to tell everyone. As tragic as this was, it's an accident in thru the eyes of the world but in reality it's a appointment with destiny. Everyone dies. It's just a good thing we don't know when or how. So being prepared to meet the creator is the best thing any of us can be. 

 

Hebrews 9:27-28 KJV

[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

 

[jippytum]

any competent police investgation should incude the cctv footage immediately not waiting until a member of staff returns from holiday and after the hotel management have first look at the footage. 

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, jippytum said:

any competent police investgation should incude the cctv footage immediately not waiting until a member of staff returns from holiday and after the hotel management have first look at the footage. 

 

Well they may need a chance to wipe any evidence of their own wrongdoing, maybe wet stairs, or such...

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, gargamon said:

They probably had just washed the stairs and they sere still wet. That slippery when wet tiling should be outlawed.

The stairs shine in the sun. Looks bloody slippery. As so often appearance before security.

In our house the stairs are also quite slippery/shiny surface.

I bought some antislip tape and of course have wooden handrails.

[mdr224]

Seems like a very thailand way to go

[spidermike007]

Hitting the head can be fatal. People die from a slip, all the time. A friend of a friend went to the bathroom, took a leak, and turned around and slipped on the tile. He hit his head on the floor and died instantly. It happened at the office. He was 26.

 

I have two friends who hit their heads while driving a bike without a helmet. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. It doesn't take much. The head can be very delicate. 

[NickyLouie]

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Hitting the head can be fatal. People die from a slip, all the time. A friend of a friend went to the bathroom, took a leak, and turned around and slipped on the tile. He hit his head on the floor and died instantly. It happened at the office. He was 26.

 

I have two friends who hit their heads while driving a bike without a helmet. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. It doesn't take much. The head can be very delicate. 

 

always profound content ,,, LOL 

 

 

[Olmate]

Stairs  upto those upperfloor massage rooms are never a concern, bound up them.The stairs coming down tho?? Slippery dips! 

[dddave]

On 12/5/2024 at 12:03 PM, BigStar said:

 

Isn't there an elevator at most BTS stations?

 

It took them 15 years but thankfully, yes.  most stations now have lifts for both directions.  They did seem to make it a point to place them at the furthest ends of the station limits but better than before.

[Burma Bill]

On 12/5/2024 at 5:27 AM, Georgealbert said:

A box of medication and syringes was also discovered on a shelf near the refrigerator,

 

Maybe he was an insulin dependent diabetic and suffered the start of a diabetic coma? Insulin has to be kept chilled in a refrigerator - but not frozen! I know from experience being a type 2 insulin dependent diabetic.

[madone]

3 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

The stairs shine in the sun. Looks bloody slippery

On 12/5/2024 at 6:01 AM, watchcat said:

Maybe he had a stroke

 

6 hours ago, gargamon said:

They probably had just washed the stairs and they sere still wet.

 

3 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Well they may need a chance to wipe any evidence of their own wrongdoing, maybe wet stairs, or such...

 

1 minute ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Maybe he was an insulin dependent diabetic and suffered the start of a diabetic coma? Insulin has to be kept chilled in a refrigerator - but not frozen! I know from experience being a type 2 insulin dependent diabetic.

thank heaven for ASEAN now

Edited 17 hours ago by madone

[dddave]

On 12/5/2024 at 12:23 PM, BigStar said:

Unfortunate accident. Preventable, though.

 

He was of an age where the consequences of a possible fall has to be taken quite seriously.

 

In 2020, 42 114 deaths in the US were related to falls, with 86% occurring among adults aged 65 years or older.1 Falls are the leading cause of injury and among the leading causes of death among older adults in the US.

    --Trends in Deaths From Falls Among Adults Aged 65 Years or Older in the US, 1999-2020

 

Seniors should actively work on their balance. Lots youtube vids w/ exercises.

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=exercises+for+balance+and+stability+for+seniors

 

Regular exercise on side stepper would be helpful.

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/tag/side-stepper/?q=side+stepper&_keyori=ss&sugg=side+stepper_1_1&catalog_redirect_tag=true

 

 

Two hazards, one perinate to life in Thailand.  First, those of us who take blood pressure meds need to be careful when standing-up after sitting for a long time. A sudden rush of blood to the legs can cause light-headedness or sometimes dizziness.  I now make it a point to stand and wait at least 30 seconds before walking away.

Sandals and other open toed shoes:  Five years ago, while wearing open toed sandals, my foot caught a ripple in a rubber floormat and down I went, hard enough to dislocate my shoulder.  Last year while also wearing sandals my foot again caught a ripple in a floormat.  This time I was able to catch myself and not fall but it could have been bad.  I realized that the open toes of sandals are much more prone to catching any kind of snag while closed, rounded shoe toes are more likely to ward of such hazards.

[Yagoda]

On 12/5/2024 at 10:45 AM, dddave said:

I Have arthritic knees.  Going up and especially down stairs is always a challenge, made much more difficult in Thailand by a scarcity of properly placed handrails. Looking at the photo of the scene of the unfortunate man's fall, I see no visible handrail on the steps from which he reportedly fell.  

The near complete lack of any kind of liability in Thailand for such lapses does not encourage building owners to consider such necessities.  Not just small businesses.  I've had to negotiate long flight's of stairways with no handrails in many public buildings, especially banks which seem to feel the need for magisterial stairways leading to their portals.

I hate the need for a cane but sometimes it's a lifesaver descending long staircases, especially those at various Bangkok BTS stations. Going downstairs, one is fighting gravity all the way and with nothing to hold onto, it can be a perilous journey.

You ought to see me, hobbling through Angkor. RIP to the dead guy.

Edited 17 hours ago by Yagoda

[richard_smith237]

It seems some folk are looking for liability, or want to blame 'Thailand' (or a facet of Thai safety culture for this), but realistically, this is just 4 steps... 

 

It was a tragic accident, just like tripping over your slippers....    100% of incidents can't be protected against 100% of the time.

 

There's a line in the sand where safety is concerned, and while many aspects in thailand fall on the 'wrong side of that line' I think this is just one of those 'freak incidents'....    tragic consequences.

 

 

What are the alternatives... remove all steps, handrails everywhere, remove swimming pools as they are a drowning risk etc etc...    I don't think this incidence falls on the 'wrong side of that safetly line in the sand', its just a tragic freak incident. 

 

 

[dddave]

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

More close to home, getting into The Bangkok Bank Branches..... particularly the one on second near soi 6!

I had Bangkok Bank in mind actually, especially one branch in Rhamkhamheng, Bangkok with a straight run of 30 steps up to it's entry, no handrail.  I once saw an old woman descending sitting on her bum, down one step at a time.

 

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

You ought to see me, hobbling through Angkor. RIP to the dead guy.

Yup, Angkor was a challenge for me also but turned into a nice story.  I had neglected to bring a walking stick.  One of the Cambodian maintenance workers clearing brush near one of the temples saw me struggling on an uneven walkway. He signaled me to wait, then went into the bushes.  He soon emerged with a stout stick, nicely trimmed by his bush knife, even a hand grip quickly carved into it.  He refused my offer of a tip for his efforts.

[billd766]

On 12/5/2024 at 10:45 AM, dddave said:

I Have arthritic knees.  Going up and especially down stairs is always a challenge, made much more difficult in Thailand by a scarcity of properly placed handrails. Looking at the photo of the scene of the unfortunate man's fall, I see no visible handrail on the steps from which he reportedly fell.  

The near complete lack of any kind of liability in Thailand for such lapses does not encourage building owners to consider such necessities.  Not just small businesses.  I've had to negotiate long flight's of stairways with no handrails in many public buildings, especially banks which seem to feel the need for magisterial stairways leading to their portals.

I hate the need for a cane but sometimes it's a lifesaver descending long staircases, especially those at various Bangkok BTS stations. Going downstairs, one is fighting gravity all the way and with nothing to hold onto, it can be a perilous journey.

I have osteo-arthritis in both knees and I have to use a walking stick for anything more than about 20 metres.

 

I agree 100% though in the big village near to where I live there are few buildings with steps. I use a walking stick and handrail or not, I make sure that I walk slowly (I have little choice) and that when I climb or descend steps, both feet are on each step before I move to the next one.

 

TBH I find that ramps are much harder than steps, especially when I go down. If my wife or anyone else is with me on ramps, I use my left hand on their shoulder for extra support.

 

Fortunately out here there are always Thai people who are willing to help. The lady at the local pharmacy always helps me down the 3 steps from her shop, as does the manager at the post office which has 6 steps plus a handrail.

Edited 16 hours ago by billd766
added extra text

[KannikaP]

5 hours ago, iLuvThai said:

I know you guys don't like to be reminded of this but it's my duty as a Christian to tell everyone. As tragic as this was, it's an accident in thru the eyes of the world but in reality it's a appointment with destiny. Everyone dies. It's just a good thing we don't know when or how. So being prepared to meet the creator is the best thing any of us can be. 

 

Hebrews 9:27-28 KJV

[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

 

What a load of cobblers. What about other religions, Muslims, Seikhs, Rastafarians etc.