An unnamed, 38-year-old German national died after falling from the ninth floor of a hotel in Pattaya late on 11 March 2026, with police initially believing it to be suicide, related to stress from personal and financial problems. The incident occurred at 23:35 at a hotel in Soi Pratumnak 5, Chon Buri province.

Get today's headlines by email

Police Lieutenant Pakorn Prakobnan, deputy investigation inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, received the report of a person falling from height and immediately informed his superior, Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu, the station chief. Investigators, along with officers from the police investigative team and rescuers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya, were dispatched to examine the scene.

Emergency responders found the man’s body on the ground beside the hotel building after he had fallen from the ninth-floor rooftop. He died at the scene from the impact and authorities cordoned off the area to prevent bystanders from approaching while evidence was collected.

Officers inspected the rooftop and discovered a pair of shoes believed to belong to the deceased left behind near the edge. Police confirmed the man had been staying in a room on the second floor of the hotel, where investigators reported no signs of a struggle or disturbance.

Shortly after the incident, the man’s girlfriend arrived at the scene and became visibly distressed upon seeing his body. She remained in tears as officials continued their investigation and questioned her.

According to the girlfriend, whose name was withheld, the couple had argued previously and had been living separately for about two months. She said the separation followed her discovery that the foreign man already had a family, though she did not expect the situation would lead him to take his own life.

She added that she only learned about the incident after receiving a phone call informing her of what had happened, prompting her to rush to the hotel. Hotel staff also told police the man had reportedly been facing financial difficulties, noting that he had not paid his rent for two months.

Police carried out a detailed examination of the scene and coordinated with the investigative unit to gather further evidence. Initial findings suggest the incident may have been linked to stress stemming from both personal issues and financial problems.

The body was later transferred by rescue personnel for a formal post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death. Authorities said the investigation will continue while officials await the results of the autopsy.

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 help.

Pictures courtesy of SiamChon

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now SiamChon 12 Mar 2026

View full article

Another sad tale from Pattaya.

Pattaya has to be the #1 city in the world for hotel/condo falling deaths....

I bet Pattaya even beats out London and Paris...

Sadly suicides are occuring world-wide every day.

Joining the Pattaya Flying Club just wouldn't be the way I'd check out. RIP

The turmoil in someone's mind to even contemplate suicide is immense. Things must have seemed so bad that living was so painful for this man. Finance and emotion are often linked, and I think here in Thailand, one frequently has an effect on the other. I realised that there is always a better way and thankfully got through the difficulties I was having to now live a happy life. Not easy but so lucky to get through it. RIP and condolences to his GF, friends and family. They will suffer more than him.

If I decided to check out I'd choose a way which didn't endanger an innocent party. Jumping from height you could land on top of someone and kill or seriously injure them, which I'm sure must have happened on occasions.

Hmmmm, family back in Europe, 2 months no rent payment, GF bailed....welcome to the Flying club.

1 hour ago, soi3eddie said:

The turmoil in someone's mind to even contemplate suicide is immense. Things must have seemed so bad that living was so painful for this man. Finance and emotion are often linked, and I think here in Thailand, one frequently has an effect on the other. I realised that there is always a better way and thankfully got through the difficulties I was having to now live a happy life. Not easy but so lucky to get through it. RIP and condolences to his GF, friends and family. They will suffer more than him.

I agree entirely with all said here- a tragic end for the man and a long term sentence of suffering for his family and friends

RIP