Community Chinese Man Rescued from Pattaya Rooftop Water Tank

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded 

 

A Chinese man sparked a rescue operation late afternoon on 29 May, after climbing onto the rooftop of an eight-storey condominium and leaping into a large water tank, where he floated for more than 30 minutes before being rescued in a difficult operation.

 

The incident occurred around 17:00, when the Sawang Boriboon Pattaya Rescue Centre received an emergency call about a man trapped inside a rooftop water tank in a condominium on Soi Thepprasit 17, Pattaya, Chonburi province.

 

Upon receiving the report, the centre coordinated with Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee of Pattaya City Police Station and other emergency services to respond to the scene.

 

At the site, rescue workers found a large water tank approximately two metres high and two metres in diameter located on the rooftop of the high-rise building. Inside was a 26-year-old Chinese national, identified as Mr Qiyang, who was floating with his head above the water but appeared confused and unresponsive to verbal instructions.

The rescue operation was particularly challenging due to the location. Emergency responders had to carry ladders, ropes and rescue gear up multiple flights of stairs. It took more than half an hour to pull Mr Qiyang from the tank using harnesses and ropes, as he did not cooperate or understand the rescuers’ directions. Once out, he had to be helped down from the rooftop, before being handed over to medical teams.

 

A Thai woman at the scene, who knew the tourist, told authorities that Mr Qiyang had been staying with her after a recent falling-out with his girlfriend. She explained that he had shown signs of depression and had not taken his medication for two days. He had gone missing the previous night, prompting concern among his friends and reappeared only to climb onto the rooftop and jump into the water tank. A condominium staff member noticed him and immediately alerted the woman, who called emergency services.

 

Police have begun an initial investigation, collecting evidence at the scene and reviewing CCTV footage to determine how the tourist accessed the rooftop and the tank. Mr Qiyang was taken to hospital for treatment and psychiatric evaluation. Officers intend to question him further once his condition stabilises.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-05-30.

 

 

 

 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

A Chinese man sparked a rescue operation late afternoon on 29 May, after climbing onto the rooftop of an eight-storey condominium and leaping into a large water tank, where he floated for more than 30 minutes before being rescued in a difficult operation.

 

I'd say let him float and enjoy the water.

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

rooftop of an eight-storey condominium

located on the rooftop of the high-rise

Nope, it's a Low rise building 

 

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

leaping into a large water tank

psychiatric evaluation 

Another psycho foreigner making headlines. 

 

OUTSTANDING, good reading.

 

Thanks AN for these articles, I get a chuckle every morning 👍

 

[Georgealbert]

13 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Nope, it's a Low rise building 

 

Another psycho foreigner making headlines. 

 

OUTSTANDING, good reading, thanks AN for these articles, they give me a chuckle every morning 👍

 

I am from the UK and used the definition I knew from UK building regulations, a high-rise residential building is defined as one that has at least 7 storeys or is at least 18 meters high.
 

Just used to that definition.

[SAFETY FIRST]

Just now, Georgealbert said:

I am from the UK and used the definition I knew from UK building regulations, a high-rise residential building is defined as one that has at least 7 storeys or is at least 18 meters high.
 

Just used to that definition.

Oh OK. thanks for the feedback

 

Apparently, in Thailand these 8 storey buildings are popular for developers, they can be built in areas where roads are narrower and are identified as low rise. 

 

[jacko45k]

Rooftop pool is next door mate!

[Georgealbert]

11 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Oh OK. thanks for the feedback

 

Apparently, in Thailand these 8 storey buildings are popular for developers, they can be built in areas where roads are narrower and are identified as low rise. 

 

Now being in danger of having to remove my own posts for being off topic.

 

In Thailand, a “High-Rise Building” is defined under the Ministerial Regulation No. 33 (B.E. 2535 / 1992) issued under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

 

Definition:

 

A High-Rise Building is defined as:

 

“A building which is used or intended to be used for human occupancy, and has a height of 23.00 meters or more, measured from the ground level to the highest floor of the building.”

 

This definition excludes:

 

Certain parts of buildings such as roofs, parapets, or decorative tops that do not contain usable floors.

 

Reference:

 

Ministerial Regulation No. 33 (B.E. 2535)

Issued under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522

Thai: “กฎกระทรวง ฉบับที่ 33 (พ.ศ. 2535) ออกตามความในพระราชบัญญัติควบคุมอาคาร พ.ศ. 2522”

Published in the Royal Gazette in 1992.

 

The height is crucial, same as the UK building regulations, as it for determines which safety and design regulations apply, such as  additional fire safety, evacuation, structural, and inspection requirements compared to low-rise buildings.

 

Not sure if Pattaya has any other local regulations, which are different.

 

[gargamon]

So what's this water tank used for? To generate pressure in everyone's taps? I sure hope he didn't urinate in it.

 

If so another reason you shouldn't drink tap water in Thailand, 

[Lucky Bones]

Too many shrimps can do that to you.🙃🙃

[fredwiggy]

If he's on medications he has depression and stopping without a doctor weaning you off can make things a lot worse. Hopefully someone can convince him to stay under a doctor's (competent one) supervision. They prescribe and should be following up every few months to see if it's helping or not, and to adjust if it isn't. Too quick to prescribe and not find out if it's the right medicine has some doing exactly this.

[thesetat]

I am curious why these rooftop water tanks do. not have a screen to block a person accidentally (or deliberately going into the water? Since apparently they are not made with an easy exit if someone goes into it. Do they not have codes for building safety? 

 

[impulse]

I wonder if the residents' rice tasted funny?

 

 

[Woke to Sounds]

Poor brugger sounds clinically depressed and tried to off himself.

 

At only 26 such a shame, but indicative of the clown world we're living in.

 

Godspeed brother.

[NickyLouie]

Water with buttStank flav now ?

[Tailwagsdog]

In Australia nothing worse than a dead possum floating in yer water tank after 2 weeks ...thank god they found this blighter.

[Grumpy one]

If the rescue team had offered a plate of mango sticky rice with a side plate of shrimp, he would have flown out like superman 

[Guderian]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Now being in danger of having to remove my own posts for being off topic.

 

In Thailand, a “High-Rise Building” is defined under the Ministerial Regulation No. 33 (B.E. 2535 / 1992) issued under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

 

Definition:

 

A High-Rise Building is defined as:

 

“A building which is used or intended to be used for human occupancy, and has a height of 23.00 meters or more, measured from the ground level to the highest floor of the building.”

 

This definition excludes:

 

Certain parts of buildings such as roofs, parapets, or decorative tops that do not contain usable floors.

 

Reference:

 

Ministerial Regulation No. 33 (B.E. 2535)

Issued under the Building Control Act B.E. 2522

Thai: “กฎกระทรวง ฉบับที่ 33 (พ.ศ. 2535) ออกตามความในพระราชบัญญัติควบคุมอาคาร พ.ศ. 2522”

Published in the Royal Gazette in 1992.

 

The height is crucial, same as the UK building regulations, as it for determines which safety and design regulations apply, such as  additional fire safety, evacuation, structural, and inspection requirements compared to low-rise buildings.

 

Not sure if Pattaya has any other local regulations, which are different.

 

 

The 8-storey height in Pattaya is to do with EIA rules. Eight floors and less, there's no need to carry out an expensive EIA which might kybosh the whole project, or at least lead to lots of bribes having to be paid to get around it. Above 8 floors and the EIA is mandatory, and the developer will be expected to make a significant contribution to the local infrastructure (e.g. pay for new drains), and there's a good chance they'll get stuck with the green rooftop nonsense, which is why you often see 20- or 30-storey towers with scraggy, wind-blasted palm trees waving about on the roof, lol. It's why the building trend in many places like Jomtien these days is either 8 floors or 50, there's not much point in the in-between sizes.  

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Rooftop pool is next door mate!

I was thinking the same..

[jippytum]

Chineese do not like swimmlng ln public pephaps he wanted some privacy. 

[Reddavy]

8 hours ago, thesetat said:

I am curious why these rooftop water tanks do. not have a screen to block a person accidentally (or deliberately going into the water? Since apparently they are not made with an easy exit if someone goes into it. Do they not have codes for building safety? 

 

No. It’s Thailand 🤷🏼

[Formaleins]

I bet he has had a slash and taken a dump in the tank - Glad my water isn't from that condo! Maybe an IQ test rather than a visa?

[KhunBENQ]

9 hours ago, gargamon said:

So what's this water tank used for? To generate pressure in everyone's taps? I sure hope he didn't urinate in it.

 

If so another reason you shouldn't drink tap water in Thailand, 

What a tank is for.

Store enough water (24/7 filled up) to supply enough water to numerous condos or the like during peak times.

That task can usually not be done directly with communal water supply. Not enough flow and pressure.

Even the tank being on top you still need pumps if you want to have a proper shower on the upper floors.

 

Drinking or cooking with tap water: never!!

[Georgealbert]

Video of the incident from Thai media.

 

 

[save the frogs]

22 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thanks AN for these articles, I get a chuckle every morning

 

Because maybe your psychological health isn't the best?

So you get a laugh seeing other people in bad situations? 

 

[Burma Bill]

 Did he decide to cool down after a pyjama party?

[RMK54]

You can't fix crazy, because crazy is as crazy does!