Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 34-year-old personal trainer was found dead in a car in Nakhon Sawan in what is believed to be a case of suicide linked to severe depression and a financial dispute with a former partner.

 

Police and emergency services were called to the roadside near the Sky Garden Market on the Suphai–Sankhu Road in Nakhon Sawan Tok Subdistrict. Officers from Mueang Nakhon Sawan Police Station, along with rescue workers and a medical examiner from Sawanpracharak Hospital, discovered a white Honda City, parked with all windows tightly shut and the engine turned off.

 

Inside, they found the lifeless body of Mr. Thawatchai, also known as Bird, lying in the driver’s seat. His body was discoloured and showed signs consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning. A charcoal stove, still emitting residual heat, was discovered in the front passenger footwell, suggesting he had used it to asphyxiate himself.

 

His sister, Ms. Nuengruthai, tearfully informed investigators that her brother had been battling depression since the death of their mother and had attempted suicide on three previous occasions, all of which she had managed to prevent. He had been living with her and borrowed her car the night before, saying he was going to do laundry. When both he and the car were missing the following morning, she sensed something was wrong and began a frantic search, eventually finding the car parked at the scene.

 

Ms. Nuengruthai added that in addition to his depression, her brother had been under immense stress due to a financial betrayal by a former boyfriend, who allegedly swindled him out of more than 2 million baht. Despite repeated efforts to recover the money, Mr. Thawatchai was met with indifference, which further contributed to his mental decline.

 

Police have taken Ms. Nuengruthai in for further questioning and have sent the body for a full autopsy at Sawanpracharak Hospital. The remains will be returned to the family for religious rites once the post-mortem is completed.

 

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 out help.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-07