A 79-year-old Swiss man died after a fire broke out in his rented room in Pong, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, early on 11 April 2026. The victim, who was bedridden, was found burned to death on his bed after flames engulfed the property. Police believe a discarded cigarette may have started the blaze.

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The fire was reported at 06:05 to investigators at Nong Prue Police Station. Officers, led by Pol Capt Damchaluay Samkanying, coordinated with Pong municipal fire services and Sawang Boriboon rescue volunteers to respond to the scene in Soi Huay Yai Muk, Moo 6, Pong subdistrict.

The property was a row of rental rooms housing several foreign residents, many of them elderly. Firefighters took around 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control and prevent it spreading to adjacent units.

Once the fire was extinguished, authorities entered room number 6 and discovered the victim’s body on the bed. The remains were severely burned and the area was secured to prevent access by unauthorised individuals.

A 31-year-old neighbour, identified as Ms Nann, said the man, identified by authorities as Holger Weisswang, lived alone and was unable to move without assistance. She added that he regularly smoked cigarettes while lying in bed, suggesting this may have caused the fire.

Another neighbour, Ms Somporn, 41, said she was alerted by the smell of smoke while sleeping. When she opened her door, she saw flames inside the victim’s room but was unable to enter due to the intensity of the fire, prompting her to call for help.

Police documented the scene and requested forensic officers from Chon Buri Provincial Forensic Division 2 to investigate the exact cause. Pol Col Nattaphon Phongsuksakul, superintendent of Nong Prue Police Station, oversaw operations.

Initial findings suggest the fire may have been caused by a smouldering cigarette, combined with the victim’s inability to escape due to his condition. The body has been transferred to hospital. The incident highlights fire risks associated with smoking, particularly among individuals with limited mobility. Authorities are expected to confirm the cause following forensic examination, as the investigation continues.

Pictures courtesy of SiamChon

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Adapted by ASEAN Now SiamChon 11 Apr 2026

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RIP ! Hortible death, bedridden and burnt ! Sounds like a German not Swiss name !

I remember the public service announcement when I was a kid: Don't smoke in bed or you'll end up dead.

Sad way for a life to end. Cigarettes in bed and phones charging under pillows seem to cause many such fires.

38 minutes ago, TopThai1964 said:

RIP ! Hortible death, bedridden and burnt ! Sounds like a German not Swiss name !

Do you realise that in Switzerland you speak German and Italian?

Weiss is a Swiss sounding name

8 hours ago, TopThai1964 said:

RIP ! Hortible death, bedridden and burnt ! Sounds like a German not Swiss name !

Are you suggesting he had a fake passport?

Oh great - another thread where a debate ensues about a name befitting nationality and completely ignoring the subject itself...

What a horrible way to go.

19 hours ago, still kicking said:

Do you realise that in Switzerland you speak German and Italian?

Swiss German (and Italian, French and Rumantsch) is spoken in Switzerland. Most Germans don't understand a word. Weisswang is indeed not a Swiss name, and neither is Holger. But there have always been many German economic refugees in Switzerland. Presumably, he's a German with a Swiss passport.

13 minutes ago, Sato said:

Swiss German (and Italian, French and Rumantsch) is spoken in Switzerland. Most Germans don't understand a word. Weisswang is indeed not a Swiss name, and neither is Holger. But there have always been many German economic refugees in Switzerland. Presumably, he's a German with a Swiss passport.

Never heard of Rumantsch ....interesting !

12 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Never heard of Rumantsch ....interesting !

Never heard of Rumantsch?
It’s German for “romance, but audited.”

You start with a Rumantschtic dinner…
proceed to controlled bit of Rumantsctic es miteinander treiben...
and finish with a post-event review and action points.

some people have truly horrific deaths. very sad stuff.

my ex was a smoker and paranoid about not extinguishing those things before bed or leaving the house.

On 4/11/2026 at 4:14 AM, Georgealbert said:

Police documented the scene and requested forensic officers from Chon Buri Provincial Forensic Division 2 to investigate the exact cause. Pol Col Nattaphon Phongsuksakul, superintendent of Nong Prue Police Station, oversaw operations.

Initial findings suggest the fire may have been caused by a smouldering cigarette, combined with the victim’s inability to escape due to his condition.

One wonders, how bedridden this man was, if a helper came only from time to time; he was obviously mobile enough to smoke cigarettes, which to me means some upper body mobility at a minimum -- but from the picture, he was still on the bed.

It is a very horrible way to go, but for somebody not able to leave the house, maybe the only way, seeing he also had no balcony -- if it was not an accident indeed.

Either way, a very sad story. If somebody knew the man, my condolences.