Accident Austrian Tourist Dies After Drunken Fall at Koh Samui Hotel

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

An Austrian tourist has died in an incident on Koh Samui after falling down a flight of stairs at his hotel while reportedly intoxicated. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of 2 July and police have ruled out foul play.

 

The deceased, identified as 45-year-old Mario (surname withheld pending notification of family), was discovered by hotel staff at a resort on Beach Road in the Bo Phut area of Koh Samui, in Surat Thani province. His body was found lying face-up on the concrete floor of the stairwell leading to his third-floor room, number 236, with a visible head wound above his left eyebrow.

 

Officers from Bo Phut Police Station responded promptly to the scene after receiving a report from the hotel. According to investigators, there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry in the man’s room, suggesting that the incident was accidental.

CCTV footage from the hotel confirms that the tourist was alone and appeared intoxicated at the time of the incident. The video shows him attempting to ascend the stairs unsteadily before losing his balance and falling, striking his head against the hard surface below.

 

The hotel’s manager told police that the man had been seen drinking alcohol daily during his stay, including the night before his death. “We were aware that he was drinking heavily, but we never imagined something like this would happen. It’s a sad and shocking incident,” the manager said.

 

A staff member discovered the body while assisting another guest with their luggage and immediately alerted emergency services. Medics arrived quickly but were unable to revive the tourist, confirming that he had died at the scene.

 

Police coordinated with on-duty medical staff at Koh Samui Hospital to conduct an autopsy, which confirmed the cause of death as a traumatic head injury. The Austrian Embassy has been informed and is in the process of notifying the victim’s family.

 

Authorities have classified the case as an accidental death, but a full report will be forwarded to Austrian consular officials.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-03

 

 

 

[Thumbs]

Good God are those thai police giants or are those balcony railings dangerously low! Any hotel advertising for western guests should have the balcony railings examined for safety 

[newbee2022]

45. A bit too early. 

 

[wensiensheng]

“According to investigators, there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry in the man’s room, suggesting that the incident was accidental.”

 

For goodness sake, they have the guys fall on cctv. THATS what confirms it’s accidental

[wensiensheng]

17 minutes ago, Thumbs said:

Good God are those thai police giants or are those balcony railings dangerously low! Any hotel advertising for western guests should have the balcony railings examined for safety 

I think it’s a trick of the photo angle. Anyway he didn’t fall over those railings, he fell down the stairs

[PoorSucker]

Not so many three stories hotels, anyone got an idea 

[3NUMBAS]

It’s common for Aussies to fall over drunk that’s why fosters are pushing shandy nowadays

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Thumbs said:

Good God are those thai police giants or are those balcony railings dangerously low! Any hotel advertising for western guests should have the balcony railings examined for safety 

Half size half price... go figure

[Colki]

3NUMBAS you may want to read article again  Austrian  not  Australian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Harrisfan]

14 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

It’s common for Aussies to fall over drunk that’s why fosters are pushing shandy nowadays

Fosters doesnt exist anymore. Nobody has drunk it for 20 years. The guy is Austrian too. 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Thumbs said:

Good God are those thai police giants or are those balcony railings dangerously low! Any hotel advertising for western guests should have the balcony railings examined for safety 

In this case balcony railings are irrelevant. Read again.

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

“According to investigators, there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry in the man’s room, suggesting that the incident was accidental.”

 

For goodness sake, they have the guys fall on cctv. THATS what confirms it’s accidental

No that does only confirm the fall itself was accidental, does not mean there would not be nothing else that could have happened. Including to have drugged someone to the point they try to get away before passing out.

[grain]

Considering he was a heavy drinker and drinking every day you'd think he would have got the hang of falling over by now.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

2 hours ago, Thumbs said:

Good God are those thai police giants or are those balcony railings dangerously low! Any hotel advertising for western guests should have the balcony railings examined for safety 

I think it’s a trick of the photo angle. Anyway he didn’t fall over those railings, he fell down the stairs

 

Agreed...  nevertheless, the observation is valid - with the amount of people falling of balconies etc here - this just shows how low some of the railings are.

 

 

Separately, as you point out: Its incredibly unfortunate to kill yourself from a simple fall down stairs...  but it also highlights how devastating an head impact can be... (meanwhile some on this forum think its ok not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle when popping to the nearby 7-11 - but this incidence shows what a simple fall and head impact can do).

[DezLez]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Fosters doesnt exist anymore. Nobody has drunk it for 20 years. 

B.S.

Any chance you could stick to facts or your opinion!

Please do not mix them up.

Fosters is still available whether you like it or not and actually has nothing specifically to do with either country as It is owned by the Japanese brewing group Asahi Group Holdings, and is brewed under licence in a number of countries, including its biggest market, the UK, where the European rights to the brand are owned by Heineken International. 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

with the amount of people falling of balconies etc here

What "amount" is that?   A very small number to be precise.

[fredwiggy]

9 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What "amount" is that?   A very small number to be precise.

I can remember at least 10 that have been reported just here, long with others on international news. This link doesn't say how many but that it's quite often, along with a concern of not reporting deaths or following up on them.............https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2024/09/02/rising-number-of-tall-building-deaths-need-to-be-both-rigorously-reported-and-fully-investigated/

[Liverpool Lou]

2 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

12 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What "amount" is that?   A very small number to be precise.

I can remember at least 10 that have been reported just here,

Specifics would add kudos to your claim of knowledge of at least ten and over what period of time?

[fredwiggy]

2 hours ago, grain said:

Considering he was a heavy drinker and drinking every day you'd think he would have got the hang of falling over by now.

Unlike one poster here who actually thinks he knows how to drive safely drunk, heavy drinking has anyone not having near the balance they have when sober. True, they might fall many times, but it only takes on fall down a stairs and hitting your head to end your days. When you're drunk you're a lot less likely to be able to protect your head than if you're sober.And this wasn't an older feeble man. 

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Specifics would add kudos to your claim of knowledge of at least ten and over what period of time?

You spend a lot of time on this forum so you should have noticed how many yourself. Any why would you personally need specifics unless you think others make up stories like this for what reason I don't know? 

[Liverpool Lou]

Just now, fredwiggy said:

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Specifics would add kudos to your claim of knowledge of at least ten and over what period of time?

You spend a lot of time on this forum so you should have noticed how many yourself. Any why would you personally need specifics unless you think others make up stories like this for what reason I don't know? 

"...unless you think others make up stories like this.."

 

That is the reason; daft, Thai-bashing claims, unsupported by any evidence, are rife here, including yours.    You made the assertion, why shouldn't you back it up instead of the lame retort, "You should have noticed how many yourself"?   How can I have noticed something as exaggerated as your claim that you know of at least ten such incidences?  If that is true, let's hear about them and read the links.

[fredwiggy]

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Specifics would add kudos to your claim of knowledge of at least ten and over what period of time?

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/05/04/polish-and-australian-men-drinking-with-their-wives-fall-to-their-deaths-in-patpong-just-48-hours-apart/..................https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/05/09/two-asian-nationals-die-in-separate-high-rise-falls-in-thailand/............https://www.msn.com/en-ie/travel/news/irish-man-dies-in-thailand-after-falling-from-hotel-balcony/ar-AA1p73ok?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1.............https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-zealand-tourist-akuhata-edward-robert-hammond-dies-after-balcony-fall-in-thailand/6HCFZ53P75EW5JU6BWO33YILOA/..............https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/malaysian-tourist-dies-after-hotel-balcony-plunge-in-patong..........https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-tourist-plunges-death-31st-33491891.................https://scandasia.com/finnish-man-falls-from-balcony-in-thailand/.................

.

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...unless you think others make up stories like this.."

 

That is the reason; daft, Thai-bashing claims, unsupported by any evidence, are rife here, including yours.    You made the assertion, why shouldn't you back it up instead of the lame retort, "You should have noticed how many yourself"?   How can I have noticed something as exaggerated as your claim that you know of at least ten such incidences?  If that is true, let's hear about them and read the links.

Who's bashing Thais here? Foreigners falling from whatever reasons has been happening a long time, along with locals falling also. When I say I remember, that means I remember. If you would read the first link I posted, they speak of this happening quite a lot.

[fredwiggy]

39 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What "amount" is that?   A very small number to be precise.

Easy to find,seeing you don't remember what's posted here...........

Chinese man falls to death from Pattaya hotel

PUBLISHED : 15 Jun 2025 at 15:47

WRITER: Chaiyot Pupattanapong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0:00 / 0:45

PATTAYA: A Chinese man, 22, fell to his death from a hotel on Pattaya Sai 2 Road on Sunday morning.

Police were informed of the death at 8.06am. At the hotel, the name of which was withheld, police found the body on the ground next to the hotel building.

According to investigators, the Chinese man stayed alone in a room on the 21st floor of the hotel and there were no traces of robbery or a struggle in the room.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

 

https://src.trvdp.com/images/776f4c6be7b80979bddee9f05dbf8d359ef40f2a_3.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before his death, the man was seen in CCTV footage asking about a convenience store at the lobby of the hotel. Then he returned to his room just before the fall.

 

[fredwiggy]

12 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...unless you think others make up stories like this.."

 

That is the reason; daft, Thai-bashing claims, unsupported by any evidence, are rife here, including yours.    You made the assertion, why shouldn't you back it up instead of the lame retort, "You should have noticed how many yourself"?   How can I have noticed something as exaggerated as your claim that you know of at least ten such incidences?  If that is true, let's hear about them and read the links.

I found a few just for you, in just a few minutes of researching, and it didn't have a few others I saw posted here in the last 7 years I've lived here.............https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/emergency-incident/doncaster-woman-dies-after-plunging-from-hotel-walkway-in-thailand-5161105.

[Scouse123]

Pretty unforgiving are the tiled and concrete floors in these types of accommodation if you fall head first.

 

RIP to the man, 45 years old is too young to be dying from a mishap on holiday.

[Liverpool Lou]

11 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/05/04/polish-and-australian-men-drinking-with-their-wives-fall-to-their-deaths-in-patpong-just-48-hours-apart/..................https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/05/09/two-asian-nationals-die-in-separate-high-rise-falls-in-thailand/............https://www.msn.com/en-ie/travel/news/irish-man-dies-in-thailand-after-falling-from-hotel-balcony/ar-AA1p73ok?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1.............https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-zealand-tourist-akuhata-edward-robert-hammond-dies-after-balcony-fall-in-thailand/6HCFZ53P75EW5JU6BWO33YILOA/..............https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/malaysian-tourist-dies-after-hotel-balcony-plunge-in-patong..........https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-tourist-plunges-death-31st-33491891.................https://scandasia.com/finnish-man-falls-from-balcony-in-thailand/.................

.

Brilliant.  Random reports, none of which were attributed to low balconies.   Two were duplicate reports, one described a man going crazy and jumping, one described a pissed man suddenly jumping up and going over the balcony and you finish up with a thirteen-year old confirmed suicide report.   You really should read your own links before posting them as evidence of your personal recollections! As i suggested you had no evidence of the ten plus that you could recall.

[John Drake]

People go on vacation and really seem to let their guard down. You would think it would be the opposite. But I wonder how often, if ever, this guy got falling down drunk back in Austria. 

[MalcolmB]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

meanwhile some on this forum think its ok not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle when popping to the nearby 7-11

They are living proof it is ok don’t you think?
 

He was probably on his phone not watching where he was going.

[fredwiggy]

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Brilliant.  Random reports, none of which were attributed to low balconies.   Two were duplicate reports, one described a man going crazy and jumping, one described a pissed man suddenly jumping up and going over the balcony and you finish up with a thirteen-year old confirmed suicide report.   You really should read your own links before posting them as evidence of your personal recollections! As i suggested you had no evidence of the ten plus that you could recall.

Now you're asking for low balcony falls, which wasn't your original request. I found a few, you can find more if you want the information. This isn't random happenings. They've been happening for decades and from all types of hotels and balconies. You didn't ask if they were suicides, falls or pushes.Your reply to Richardsmith was falls. They're all falls. This topic is about a man falling down a stairs and the other poster said he's also heard of it happening a lot. I posted those just to show you it happens a lot. You said a very small number. What's a very small number? 3,5,10? I heard of this happening when I was still living in the US, as Thailand was on my bucket list so I looked up news about it before I came here.