Accident Polish Tourist Falls to Death from Phuket Condo Balcony

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

A Polish tourist has died after falling from the fifth floor of a condominium in Patong, Phuket, in the early hours of the morning. The incident occurred in front of his wife, who was left in a state of shock.

 

The victim, identified as Mr Sławomir, 34, was reportedly drinking alcohol with his wife on the balcony of their fifth-floor apartment shortly before the incident. According to police, he stood up, lost his balance and fell, suffering fatal injuries.

 

The incident was reported to Patong Police Station at 00:15 on 3 May.. Pol Lt Col Channarong Prakongkuea, an investigator at the station, responded to the scene along with forensic officers, medical examiners from Vachira Phuket Hospital, and a local rescue foundation.

 

Mr Sławomir was found lying near the perimeter wall of the condominium building. His wife, still visibly distraught, recounted that they had been sitting on the balcony drinking when he stood up and suddenly lost his balance.

 

Forensic doctors conducted a preliminary examination of the body at the scene, after which the remains were transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a full post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.

 

Authorities have contacted the Polish Embassy to arrange for the repatriation of the body and to provide assistance to the grieving spouse.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-03.

 

 

 

[ozz1]

An Australian yesterday and now someone else there is a pattern here alcohol and high stairs don't mix the phuket flying squad strikes again so sad for the families

[ChipButty]

The balcony railings must have been low, 

[LivingNThailand]

11 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

The balcony railings must have been low, 

Probably.  In the USA there are OSHA standards for balcony railing heights and you would have to be very very tall to trip and fall over a balcony railing.  Here the balcony railing heights are all over the board.   In my neighborhood they are building new houses with these all glass see through balcony  barrier walls.   You can't even see them.  I'm waiting for someone walk up to one and fall over them.  Unfortunately.   It is a real hazard as far as I'm concerned.  

[frank83628]

Rip, so many deaths in Thailand involving alcohol

[impulse]

27 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

The balcony railings must have been low, 

 

I've stayed at several hotels in LOS where the hotel has built onto the existing balcony rails so they're not so dangerous.  Kudos to them.  I'd hope that will become a licensing safety requirement. 

 

It's probably not an issue unless (like me) the tourists come from the nanny states where we expect to be protected by building codes.

 

Early on my stay at my BKK apartment, I leaned over the rail to look at some birds fighting on the balcony below mine.  I suddenly realized that my center of gravity was way out over the rail.  Had my feet slipped, I was going over.  It was an awakening for this nanny state escapee.

 

[Mroovah]

In Poland, according to the Polish Building Code (Warunki Techniczne), the minimum height for balcony railings (balustrades) is:

 

• 1.1 meters (110 cm) from the finished floor level of the balcony.

 

 

 

Additional Notes:

 

 

• If the balcony is located above a certain height (e.g., higher floors), this 1.1 m requirement still applies.
• The railing must also be designed to prevent falling—meaning no large gaps that could let a child slip through. Typically, openings should not exceed 12 cm.
• Materials must be durable, stable, and resistant to weather.

R.I.P.

[Mroovah]

In the USA, balcony railing height requirements are governed by the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), which most states and cities adopt (with slight variations). Here’s the general rule:

 

 

Balcony Railing Height (USA):

 

 

• Minimum height: 36 inches (91.5 cm) for residential buildings (1-2 family homes) under the IRC.
• Minimum height: 42 inches (106.7 cm) for commercial or multi-family buildings (apartments, condos, etc.) under the IBC.

 

[WDSmart]

What? A foreign tourist falling to their death from the balcony of a hotel room in Pattaya? Who would have thought that could happen? 😮 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The balcony railings must have been low, 

They're fine if you're only 4ft tall

[Dave0206]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

 

I've stayed at several hotels in LOS where the hotel has built onto the existing balcony rails so they're not so dangerous.  Kudos to them.  I'd hope that will become a licensing safety requirement. 

 

It's probably not an issue unless (like me) the tourists come from the nanny states where we expect to be protected by building codes.

 

Early on my stay at my BKK apartment, I leaned over the rail to look at some birds fighting on the balcony below mine.  I suddenly realized that my center of gravity was way out over the rail.  Had my feet slipped, I was going over.  It was an awakening for this nanny state escapee.

 

Not everything is bad in nanny States and I for 1 would be happy if it was an accepted norm here like traffic stopping @ red lights or zebra crossing as well as higher barriers plus my pet hate toilets that seem to be taken from a junior school so my poor legs  need to go past my knees to sit down 

[JJ-Thailand]

One more . . .    Almost daily now and it is not even high season.

[save the frogs]

18 hours ago, impulse said:

It's probably not an issue unless (like me) the tourists come from the nanny states where we expect to be protected by building codes.

 

Please give it a rest with the "nanny state" nonsense.

Clearly, if people are dying then they need to be protected for their own good.

People get drunk.

And .... people can get pushed over. 

 

[KhunLA]

R I P 

 

Millions of people every day, encounter these dastardly balconies.  Yet it seems mostly those indulging in alcohol are the one falling over them.

 

Damn balconies ... 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

 

Please give it a rest with the "nanny state" nonsense.

Clearly, if people are dying then they need to be protected for their own good.

People get drunk.

And .... people can get pushed over. 

 

But you can get drunk back in nanny land and you won't fall over a balcony.  They're designed to be idiot proof.  And if you do fall over one, you can sue the snot out of the hotel.

 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, impulse said:

 

But you can get drunk back in nanny land and you won't fall over a balcony.  They're designed to be idiot proof.  And if you do fall over one, you can sue the snot out of the hotel.

 

 

Exactly.

And if someone wants you dead in a hotel in nanny land, they need to be more creative than pushing you off a balcony.

[impulse]

3 hours ago, Dave0206 said:

Not everything is bad in nanny States

 

I didn't say it was.  But it's a compromise.  You get safer conditions, but at higher prices.  Part of the reason for higher prices are functional smoke detectors and higher balconies.  They cost money.

 

[atpeace]

The condo that my x now owns on the beach had a low balcony wall and loved it. I think it why people like negative edge pool with a view.  Definitely worth the risk IMO.

[Fishfish Snakesnake]

6 hours ago, WDSmart said:

What? A foreign tourist falling to their death from the balcony of a hotel room in Pattaya? Who would have thought that could happen? 😮 

It is the Will of Allaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

[Gottfrid]

Totally unfathomable. Here we blame low railings, too drunk or whatever we can find. It´s really simple! People must understand that they stand on a balcony. There are nothing wrong with the railings. What wrong is that people on the balconies does not understand the the balcony have areas limits. Once again, it´s a mental health problem.

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Totally unfathomable. Here we blame low railings, too drunk or whatever we can find. It´s really simple! People must understand that they stand on a balcony. There are nothing wrong with the railings. What wrong is that people on the balconies does not understand the the balcony have areas limits. Once again, it´s a mental health problem.

Yep, and you are probably the best poster on this forum to opine on that!

[Harrisfan]

20 hours ago, WDSmart said:

What? A foreign tourist falling to their death from the balcony of a hotel room in Pattaya? Who would have thought that could happen? 😮 

It was in Phuket

[Gottfrid]

14 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Yep, and you are probably the best poster on this forum to opine on that!

Let´s just say like this. I am smart enough to not fall from balconies

[thespecialist6]

On 5/3/2025 at 4:18 AM, ozz1 said:

An Australian yesterday and now someone else there is a pattern here alcohol and high stairs don't mix the phuket flying squad strikes again so sad for the families

I always said the balcony rails in thailand are too low , linford Christie would have no problem Getting over it.

[newnative]

On 5/3/2025 at 11:15 AM, LivingNThailand said:

Probably.  In the USA there are OSHA standards for balcony railing heights and you would have to be very very tall to trip and fall over a balcony railing.  Here the balcony railing heights are all over the board.   In my neighborhood they are building new houses with these all glass see through balcony  barrier walls.   You can't even see them.  I'm waiting for someone walk up to one and fall over them.  Unfortunately.   It is a real hazard as far as I'm concerned.  

     Yes, they are using glass railings everywhere these days, inside and out.   I certainly wouldn't trust leaning on any of them.  

[Gottfrid]

17 hours ago, thespecialist6 said:

I always said the balcony rails in thailand are too low

Okay, the railings are not up to par regarding your standards, but it´s absolutely no problem with your observation capacity. Darn, man! If a railing is lower than you are used to, you are fitted with a pair of eyes on the front side of your head that should be able to make that observation. 😂