Picture courtesy of Komchadluek.

 

A 46-year-old Thai man made a dramatic decision to end his life by jumping into the Chao Phraya River after a failed attempt to reconcile with his long-time partner. The man, identified only as Mr. Peeraphon, survived the ordeal after panicking mid-attempt and finally climbing out of the river.

 

The incident occurred near a Chinese shrine on the banks of the river in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi. Officers from Pak Kret Police Station and rescue volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation responded swiftly to the scene after being alerted to a possible suicide.

 

At the riverbank, authorities discovered a black backpack, a pair of sandals, socks and a bottle of drinking water. Inside the bag, police found a knife, a national ID card, personal documents and a suicide note expressing heartbreak and love for a woman named “Khiew,” his Laotian partner of 22 years.

 

According to Mr. Peeraphon, speaking through tears, he was devastated after discovering his partner had been messaging another Laotian man. Feeling abandoned and worthless, especially after enduring personal and professional hardships, he saw no other option but to end his life.

 

“I worked as a security guard, 14 days straight, sleep-deprived, only to be cheated out of my wages,” he said. “After I lost that job, I got another at a shopping mall in Srisamarn but was dismissed again without doing anything wrong. My partner left me with two children and the burden of rent at 6,500 baht a month. I know I’ve made mistakes, including once hitting her because I had linked her phone accounts and read her messages.”

 

Six months after their breakup, Mr. Peeraphon tracked down his former partner in a desperate bid to win her back. “When I called, she’d blocked me on Facebook. Then I saw her post a picture with a new man, sending heart emojis. I felt like my heart had shattered.”

 

He arrived at the riverside shrine just before noon, bringing water and liquor concealed in an energy drink bottle. A local man, Mr. Aon, noticed him crying and approached to ask what was wrong. After hearing of the heartbreak, Mr. Peeraphon attempted to cut himself with a knife, but Mr. Aon managed to stop him. Moments later, the man jumped into the river instead.

 

While rescue efforts initially failed to locate him, Mr. Peeraphon eventually emerged from the water unharmed. He admitted he had second thoughts after swallowing water and becoming entangled in water hyacinths.

 

“I was scared. I blacked out in the water. When I woke up and saw the sky above me, I clutched the plants and pulled myself up,” he recalled.

 

Authorities took Mr. Peeraphon to Pak Kret Police Station to calm down before arranging for him to return to his rented accommodation in Srisamarn. Despite his heartbreak, he expressed a deep wish for reconciliation, though he admitted that the relationship may be beyond repair.

 

The suicide note, contained messages to his partner and children, urging his ex to move on with her new life and wishing happiness for their children.

 

Police are continuing to monitor Mr. Peeraphon’s wellbeing and have reminded the public to seek help when facing emotional distress.

 

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 Khomchadluek 2025-06-28

 

 

 

Must have forgotten that he could swim!

EVERY person interviewed who has survived a suicide attempt had said they had the same thought as they jumped - "Oops!"

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

survived the ordeal after panicking mid-attempt and finally climbing out of the river.

 

Good that he learned to swim in some point of his life.