1 hour ago, Bruce Aussie said:

Cruise ships have bigger balconies than most these condos. Waste space the extra 3m2 be better as inside use. They are dangerous due to small size and low rails.

Unless you like balconies. I had a condo with an incredible sea view with the highest rail slightly blocking the view. I just constructed higher furniture but the wife nailed her head on the ceiling fan blade while sitting up. Could have killed her. Would have much more money if it had.

THink this guy knew what he was doing and figured 86 was a good age to die. Higher railings aren't going to stop jumpers or murderers.

13 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Nonsense and/or misinformed. "..allowing eligible individuals with grievous and irremediable medical conditions (whether death is foreseeable or not) to receive help to end their lives." (G search) I don't think his state qualifies as 'grievous and irremediable'. He should have gone to Switzerland...

How do you know what his state was? All the info might not be in the article.

21 hours ago, save the frogs said:

but that's a horrendous way to die.

what kind of fear does someone experience as they are falling?

scary stuff.

ideally, we need to die peacefully.

You made a good point which was "what kind of fear does someone experience as they are falling".

We should go hunting for a potential jumper and pay him lot's of baht if he wears a voice recorder and camera during his jump and records everything about his experience on the way down. The higher the floor the more money he makes . Oops should of said, "the more his next of kin makes". Great idea hey?

21 hours ago, save the frogs said:

but that's a horrendous way to die.

what kind of fear does someone experience as they are falling?

scary stuff.

ideally, we need to die peacefully.

Would you rather have a crane fall on you…both are sudden and impactful

Maybe a terminal disease?

He could of stood on a chair to get over the railings they usually do and it's the perfect time 5am - 6am usual

On 1/15/2026 at 4:10 PM, norsurin said:

Another tragic story.Why don't they get higher reelings?This happens to often and the police can't find any evidence for foul play.

But in 97% of cases, these were jumps, not accidents.

I have too much to look forward to.

I would never consider such a high dive.

If I live to be 86, then I will need a new computer, by then, probably.

Meanwhile, my new computer, a desktop, IMHO, will do nicely during the next dozen years.

And so, my estimate is that this old man's fall was inadvertent.

Why persevere for 86 years, and then suddenly leap over a balcony?

Makes no sense.

21 hours ago, 1duckyboy said:

Sounds more like a prison than hotel. No thanks.

Reading all that had my head reeling!

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I have too much to look forward to.

I would never consider such a high dive.

If I live to be 86, then I will need a new computer, by then, probably.

Meanwhile, my new computer, a desktop, IMHO, will do nicely during the next dozen years.

And so, my estimate is that this old man's fall was inadvertent.

Why persevere for 86 years, and then suddenly leap over a balcony?

Makes no sense.

You would "never consider such a high dive" : ...... does that mean that you would, however, consider a much lower dive?

If you want to "make sense" of this unfathomable behaviour, why don't you take a deep dive into the work of Samuel Becket....Somewhere in there you will catch a glimmer of the light that was too bright for the unfortunate Canadian.....

19 hours ago, Emdog said:

Nonsense and/or misinformed. "..allowing eligible individuals with grievous and irremediable medical conditions (whether death is foreseeable or not) to receive help to end their lives." (G search) I don't think his state qualifies as 'grievous and irremediable'. He should have gone to Switzerland...

Come on, when someone is old and sick with no hopes of getting better, because of age..

.Your not going to go jet setting around the world looking for some government program which involves loads of worthless paperwork no doubt to end things...

When the balcony is a few feet away...No waiting and no paperwork...

Suicide, I don't blame him at all, at 85 50% chance of dementia, no civilised way to kill yourself so people are forced into extreme measures

12 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Suicide, I don't blame him at all, at 85 50% chance of dementia, no civilised way to kill yourself so people are forced into extreme measures

Dementia prevalence by age

This shows how many people have dementia at a given age:

• Age 60–64: ~1%

• Age 65–69: ~1–2%

• Age 70–74: ~3–4%

• Age 75–79: ~6–8%

• Age 80–84: ~12–20%

• Age 85–89: ~25–40%

• Age 90+: ~40–60%

On 1/15/2026 at 4:53 PM, save the frogs said:

Elderly people should avoid living in high rises.

Or anyone, actually.

Way too many balcony falls going on in Thailand.

The guy was 86, probably thought it was his time to go, painless and quick.. Nothing to do with the balcony or railings.

1 minute ago, henryford1958 said:

The guy was 86, probably thought it was his time to go, painless and quick.. Nothing to do with the balcony or railings.

Is it really painless though?

Your head splattering on the pavement?

Seems sick to me.

Time to go is when nature decides.

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Is it really painless though?

Your head splattering on the pavement?

Seems sick to me.

Time to go is when nature decides.

I am sure you would be unconsious, if not dead, immediately. Nature decides, what if that entails years of pain with cancer or dementia. I agree it's not nice but what choice do people have.

4 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

I am sure you would be unconsious, if not dead, immediately. Nature decides, what if that entails years of pain with cancer or dementia. I agree it's not nice but what choice do people have.

Maybe you're right.

Dementia is brutal.

You would die immediately, but there is still a fraction of a second of what must be agonizing pain. And the fear level going down must be high. It's also a degrading way to die. Maybe assisted suicide in a hospital with some loved ones around the bed in your final moments is more humane.

21 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Dementia prevalence by age

This shows how many people have dementia at a given age:

• Age 60–64: ~1%

• Age 65–69: ~1–2%

• Age 70–74: ~3–4%

• Age 75–79: ~6–8%

• Age 80–84: ~12–20%

• Age 85–89: ~25–40%

• Age 90+: ~40–60%

Dementia by changes in your brain can start as early as in your 30ies and can be seen visually by several methods.

Mr and ct is common to detect changes. I have been through this with my mom and when it first is noticeable it can go very fast.

On 1/15/2026 at 4:55 PM, Harrisfan said:

86yos will die soon anyway

You win the “most sympathetic “ post of the day!

On 1/15/2026 at 4:52 PM, norsurin said:

Yes..but they can prevent this if they build even higher reelings.

In my regular hotel in Bangkok the reelings go all the way to the top.

The main windows have also reeiings that prevent guests to clime out.

At the top floor where the swimming pool is its impossible to clime and fall or jump from.

I guess many of these cases is suicide.

How will these work when a fire department tries to rescue you via the balcony because the interior of the hotel is aflame?

I have a condo and one of the benefits is sitting early morning having my coffee or evening dinner and a beer most balconies in jomtien are high enough that you don't fall by mistake.

Many of us are past the stage of gardening so condo at least for me suits me fine with security 24/7 .

If someone has an urge to do themselves harm not a lot you can do .

If its a plan jumping seems like a selfish act considering what will happen afterwards not sure if thai wife would live in condo afterwards or be able to sell knowing how superstitious thais are.

2 hours ago, Dave0206 said:

If its a plan jumping seems like a selfish act

Not really, should have a suicide note though and make a will and leave any instructions that will help whoever is left. This guy needed a carer so possible it was too late for him to do those things, oh yes check below is clear before jumping

22 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Is it really painless though?

Your head splattering on the pavement?

Seems sick to me.

Time to go is when nature decides.

I expect you need to witness some long lingering deaths before you reconsider. Even the prospect of one can give time to move things along, saving suffering of both oneself and friends and family.

5 hours ago, Dave0206 said:

I have a condo and one of the benefits is sitting early morning having my coffee or evening dinner and a beer most balconies in jomtien are high enough that you don't fall by mistake.

Many of us are past the stage of gardening so condo at least for me suits me fine with security 24/7 .

If someone has an urge to do themselves harm not a lot you can do .

If its a plan jumping seems like a selfish act considering what will happen afterwards not sure if thai wife would live in condo afterwards or be able to sell knowing how superstitious thais are.

The answer is to jump from another condo. You need at least 10 floors to be sure anyway.

I know 2 people in their 90s. One has a mind as sharp as a tack, but has been bedridden for at least 5 years. The other is so damn healthy that I have invited him to my funeral (I'm 79), but his mind is going. Both are very happy to be alive.

Does anyone remember the guy who climbed the tower a couple of years ago here in Thailand? They tried to talk him down, but he stood up and did a beautiful swan dive. I think he enjoyed the fall. It reminded me of the Zen story where this guy is on a cliff, hanging by a rope that is about to break, and there is a hungry tiger waiting at the bottom. He sees a wild strawberry growing on the cliff and picks it.

86 can mean a few things. Terminal illness so decided to stop the pain. Dementia can have one doing things out of normal behavior, and suicide is one of them, especially in the early stages. His wife on his case while he was in a bad way, from depression or anxiety, could cause him to leap also.

The railing doesn't seem high, so he might have leaned over and fell. 86 can mean on medication so that could have an impact on him falling. That early in the morning likely not drinking, but waking up in a foggy state and going near the edge.

His wife said she left earlier and was waiting for someone to fill in, so she could have pushed him over the edge and left, knowing many were still asleep and depending on where the fall was, no one around.

10 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

The answer is to jump from another condo. You need at least 10 floors to be sure anyway.

Like the guy who pretended he wanted to view a condo to rent ( view talay 6) 2nd road next to central festival and promptly jumped off balcony. I know your head has to be in another place to do it but terrible for lady showing the property no commission nothing

On 1/15/2026 at 4:10 PM, norsurin said:

Another tragic story.Why don't they get higher reelings?This happens to often and the police can't find any evidence for foul play.

At that rate, we should all walk around in bubble suits. I guess no building should have balconies at all. People need to take personal responsibility. If you fall off a balcony because you are so drunk that you can't walk ...many cases, or you choose to end your life at a balcony for whatever sane or less sane reason that should not mean that everyone else can't enjoy a balcony. If that is too much risk, than maybe you shouldn't be in Southeast Asia.

On 1/16/2026 at 10:09 AM, superal said:

There is no way that the height of the railings can be judged by looking at the photo . I have stayed in many Thai hotels and I have yet to see railings more than 90 cms to 1 meter high on balconies . I do not think that the 86 year old man who was being cared for , was capable of climbing over the railings . Indeed there are too many cases of people falling from Thai balconies and they cannot all be suicides .

I’m in View Talay 5, railings are 115 cm high. Not absolutely sure, but I think View Talay 7 would be similar.

I have seen some high rise condos in Bangkok that have balconies that are totally enclosed by floor to ceiling railings which allow the air in to help the washed clothes to dry . Now that is fool proof