Police officers in Pattaya helped save a British tourist from the sea after he allegedly attempted to harm himself late on the night of 29 June 2026, before calming the man and ensuring he returned safely to his accommodation.

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At 11.10pm on 29 June 2026, duty investigation officers Lt. Thannathon Katanyu and Lt. Bowornsak Boonman of Pattaya City Police Station were carrying out their duties when a member of the public alerted them that a foreign tourist had entered the sea in dangerous circumstances. Believing there was no time to wait for patrol officers or rescue workers, the two officers immediately made their way about 500 metres from the police station to location on Pattaya Beach.

On arrival, they found a Thai man restraining one of the British tourists while the man’s travelling companion was arguing and shouting nearby. The officers spoke with them to calm the situation, as both appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

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Picture and video courtesy of แจ็ค โพธิ์แดง

Police established that the two men had travelled to Pattaya after returning from Koh Larn and had been drinking beer on the beach. They were due to fly back to Leeds, England, the following day. The men identified themselves to authorities, as Matthew O’Rourke, 32, and Matthew Sharp, 44, both British nationals travelling together.

Witness Kanthima Phuangcharoen, 18, said she saw one of the men remove his shirt, shouting he wanted to die and swim out to sea before beginning to struggle in the water. She alerted her friends, who stopped drinking beer and entered the sea to help. The man had swum about 30 metres from shore and rescuers had to swim out twice before successfully bringing him safely back to the beach.

Mr Sharp later told officers he had recently lost his daughter and a close friend, leaving him under severe emotional stress and causing him to contemplate taking his own life. Police separated the two men as they began arguing again, before taking Mr Sharp to Pattaya City Police Station, where he was given water and allowed to rest until he had calmed down. Officers then contacted a friend, who collected him and returned him safely to his accommodation.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now แจ็ค โพธิ์แดง 30 June 2026

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Another reminder that “just a couple of beers on Pattaya Beach” is rarely just a couple of beers.

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

5 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

Drowning his sorrows. Perhaps should have helped the mother instead.

Brits. Why are we not surprised?

2 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

I think the straw that tipped him over the edge was that he was supposed to be flying back to Leeds the next day.

That's enough to depress anyone, regardless of their disposition.

35 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Brits. Why are we not surprised?

Mental health issues are a serious problem in UK with over 5 million working aged adults being diagnosed with and claiming benefits for ADHD, autism, ADD and number other of other issues...that is a massive percentage of the working aged Brits.. expect quite a few would visit Thailand

5 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Mental health issues are a serious problem in UK with over 5 million working aged adults being diagnosed with and claiming benefits for ADHD, autism, ADD and number other of other issues...that is a massive percentage of the working aged Brits.. expect quite a few would visit Thailand

So why just Brits? Why not Portuguese? or Samoans? Something in the air over the North Sea?

42 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

So why just Brits? Why not Portuguese? or Samoans? Something in the air over the North Sea?

Cheap air fares, and exaggerated stores about Thailand attracting the wrong Brits, the Benidorm crowd as we call them.

Guys who arrive with three sets of clothing for two weeks, and intend to spend a fortnight drunk out of their minds in the bar and sleeping with anyone that will have them.

Sad excuses for human beings, and then they jump on the bandwagon of Muay Thai visas to stay longer when they are already out of funds.

54 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Mental health issues are a serious problem in UK with over 5 million working aged adults being diagnosed with and claiming benefits for ADHD, autism, ADD and number other of other issues...that is a massive percentage of the working aged Brits.. expect quite a few would visit Thailand

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A responsible government would withdraw all these benefits which are usually based on lies and pulling the wool over local doctors, but this Labour government favours the lazy and a bloated welfare state.

1 hour ago, trucking said:

I think the straw that tipped him over the edge was that he was supposed to be flying back to Leeds the next day.

That's enough to depress anyone, regardless of their disposition.

He won't be flying to Leeds from Thailand, maybe Manchester.

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

So why just Brits? Why not Portuguese? or Samoans? Something in the air over the North Sea?

A few Brits got to Portugal also 😁

3 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

My thought initially- but we all cope with grief in different ways I suppose|?

On 6/30/2026 at 6:23 AM, Jim Blue said:

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

On 6/30/2026 at 6:23 AM, Jim Blue said:

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

On 6/30/2026 at 6:23 AM, Jim Blue said:

So he recently lost both his friend and daughter

and heads to Pattaya on a bender ?

Less common then you think.

He didn't want to take his own life he wanted Help. Going to a Happy Place and doing things to keep his spirits high were helping him keep going.

Alcohol affects the prefrontal cortex in the brain which balances your emotions. It actually amplifies your feelings by removing the ability to regulate your emotions and feelings normally.

Hope he gets the help he needs. Definitely not easy sometimes as hard as life can knock you down.