Briton Falls To His Death From 21st-floor Condominium

[george]

Briton falls to his death from 21st-floor condominium room

BANGKOK: -- A Briton fell from his death from his room on the 21st floor of a condominium in the heart of Bangkok.

Police said the body of Waltman Stephan Ronald, 49, was found dead on the floor of the car park of a condominium on Silom road at 3:30 pm Friday.

Police said the man might commit suicide.

-- The Nation 2007-11-03

[lazeeboy]

Briton falls to his death from 21st-floor condominium room

BANGKOK: -- A Briton fell from his death from his room on the 21st floor of a condominium in the heart of Bangkok.

Police said the body of Waltman Stephan Ronald, 49, was found dead on the floor of the car park of a condominium on Silom road at 3:30 pm Friday.

Police said the man might commit suicide.

-- The Nation 2007-11-03

seems this is happening once a week at the moment

[JaiRawnNitNoi]

Case closed. Another farang suicide....

[YangYaiEric]

LOS; Land of Smiles(or is it Suicde now ?)

[on-on]

Police said the man might commit suicide.

Darn that reincarnation.

[PadThaiGuy]

Almost 300 Brits died in Thailand last year.

You don't usually hear about it.

Bad for Tourism.

[seonai]

I worked as editor for Pattaya Today and it happens three or four times a week there... did he jump or was he helped...?

[Suszzy]

Almost 300 Brits died in Thailand last year.

You don't usually hear about it.

Bad for Tourism.

that's quite a lot.

[HarryHacker]

I worked as editor for Pattaya Today and it happens three or four times a week there... did he jump or was he helped...?

3 or 4 jumpers a week in Pattaya?

If true that is a big wow, something should be done.

[backflip]

"Almost 300 Brits died in Thailand last year.

You don't usually hear about it.

Bad for Tourism. "

If you don't hear about them, how is it bad for tourism - except, of course, for those 300 Brits.

[percy2]

3 or 4 jumpers a week in Pattaya?

If true that is a big wow, something should be done.

Like what?

Put trampolines on all pavements?

If somebody wants to kill themselves , they will find away.

Cheers

[sbk]

Almost 300 Brits died in Thailand last year.

You don't usually hear about it.

Bad for Tourism.

that's quite a lot.

According to the TAT

Arrivals from the UK to Thailand reached a notable 745,525, a 9.48 per cent increase on the previous year’s statistics according to figures releases by the Tourism Auhtority of Thailand. Arrivals from Ireland increased by 13.97 per cent over last year’s statistic to 56,994, giving a combined total of 802,519 visitors from the UK and Ireland.

300 out of 745,525 is a lot?

Sorry, my mathematics skills are not the best, but somehow one death in over 2000 visitors doesn't seem that high. One would have to factor in all causes of death, of course. Not just murder and suicide but natural causes as well. Indeed, the death rate in the UK would make one think that perhaps Thailand is safer than home:

10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) Source: CIA factbook

[percy2]

300 out of 745,525 is a lot?

Sorry, my mathematics skills are not the best, but somehow one death in over 2000 visitors doesn't seem that high. One would have to factor in all causes of death, of course. Not just murder and suicide but natural causes as well. Indeed, the death rate in the UK would make one think that perhaps Thailand is safer than home:

10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) Source: CIA factbook

Of the 745k how many spend two weeks in Thailand and 50 weeks in the UK.

Cheers

[sbk]

And how many spend 4 or 6? The point is, I don't know that 300 in 745,000+ qualifies as "alot"

[percy2]

And how many spend 4 or 6? The point is, I don't know that 300 in 745,000+ qualifies as "alot"

I didn't sat it was alot.

Cheers

[sbk]

And how many spend 4 or 6? The point is, I don't know that 300 in 745,000+ qualifies as "alot"

I didn't sat it was alot.

Cheers

Thats ok, I didn't quote you originally

I wonder, are there some official statistics for tourist death rates of British citizens by country?

Not that I am British but since the deceased was British and there is the perception that 300/year British dead in Thailand is alot, makes me wonder where the number came from and the perception that it is high?

[PadThaiGuy]

A doctor friend told me close to 300 Brits died last year. I was shocked.

I read 2 newspapers everyday and don't see these deaths mentioned often.

My guess would have been 20 or 30.

[game4shame]

I worked as editor for Pattaya Today and it happens three or four times a week there... did he jump or was he helped...?

exactly.

[jumnien]

"Suicide" is often just a socially acceptable word for alcoholism and addiction.

[Smithson]

3 or 4 jumpers a week in Pattaya?

If true that is a big wow, something should be done.

Like what?

Put trampolines on all pavements?

If somebody wants to kill themselves , they will find away.

Cheers

Surely things can be done, netting for example.

Maybe there could be a campaign to stop ppl 'helping' them?

[thaiman]

Almost 300 Brits died in Thailand last year.

You don't usually hear about it.

Bad for Tourism.

How many brits die in UK each year. Bad for tourism? Nothing will shake tourism? Tsunami, sars, and coup: only a little. A few dead farnag? NObody cares.

[cclub75]

Put trampolines on all pavements?

If somebody wants to kill themselves , they will find away.

Too easy...

The point is : there is a statistical anomaly in Pattaya.

People in western countries do not commit suicide by jumping.

Check datas for US here (or here for the search page of this great database).

But they seem to do it in Pattaya.

Now, we can argue, blabla, but still something is not normal.

All western men willing to commit suicide in Pattaya might be addicted (on powerfull LSD), alcooholic, depressed, or with a terminal illness (cancer + aid sounds good).

Now, that would be also a statistical anomaly.

Comment to the Pattaya Mail Editor : you should just maintain a list of "jumpers". Something very simple : date + nationality + age + sex.

And after a few month, that could maybe open some eyes...

Edited November 7, 2007 by cclub75

[taxexile]

i would suggest that the high figures are more to do with the low balcony rails and the slippery tiling that are the norm here than suicide.

so easy to slip and go over if you have had a bit too much to drink.

[Suszzy]

300 out of 745,525 is a lot?

Sorry, my mathematics skills are not the best, but somehow one death in over 2000 visitors doesn't seem that high. One would have to factor in all causes of death, of course. Not just murder and suicide but natural causes as well. Indeed, the death rate in the UK would make one think that perhaps Thailand is safer than home:

10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) Source: CIA factbook

i didn't know that 300 out of 745,525

that's why i said quite a lot. Thanks for the information!

[Krub]

Briton falls to his death from 21st-floor condominium room

BANGKOK: -- A Briton fell from his death from his room on the 21st floor of a condominium in the heart of Bangkok.

Police said the body of Waltman Stephan Ronald, 49, was found dead on the floor of the car park of a condominium on Silom road at 3:30 pm Friday.

Police said the man might commit suicide.

-- The Nation 2007-11-03

A close friend knew this guy very well.

He had a health and drink problem but nothing serious enough to justify suicide.

He lived in Silom Suite and was an english teacher with a very very good salary at a prestigious school.

Extremely sad

RIP

[Pawpcorn]

Briton falls to his death from 21st-floor condominium room

BANGKOK: -- A Briton fell from his death from his room on the 21st floor of a condominium in the heart of Bangkok.

Police said the body of Waltman Stephan Ronald, 49, was found dead on the floor of the car park of a condominium on Silom road at 3:30 pm Friday.

Police said the man might commit suicide.

-- The Nation 2007-11-03

A close friend knew this guy very well.

He had a health and drink problem but nothing serious enough to justify suicide.

He lived in Silom Suite and was an english teacher with a very very good salary at a prestigious school.

Extremely sad

RIP

I'll be honest here, and say that after 4 days here... (in Bangkok) I too contemplated jumping from the 18th floor, after finding out that the person I met on the internet, in the states, and after many many long conversations and letters, who had committed to me, saying "I'll love you forever"... was in the bed of another man after I was here just 4 days. The fact that I had given up (or given away) everything I had in the states to come here to live in the LOS apparently meant nothing.

Seems...

1) I didn't bring enough money

2) I didn't understand that "forever" can mean 4 days, in Thailand

3) I didn't realize that MOST of our previous dialog was right out of the "Snag That Farang" phrase book

4) I didn't understand the realities (and desparation) of Thai life for a Thai.

5) I didn't understand Thai Love, and was playing by the old (now obsolete) Farang Love rules.

I'm glad I didn't jump. It was my first lesson, and my first real test, as an American trying to adopt a new homeland, in a foreign land and foreign culture.

After 8 days of being in Thailand, (and still alive!) I started to feel more at home here on this soil than I'd felt my whole adult life in the states, and started to understand and appreciate (and, yes, love again, under the much more practical Thai rules) the Thai people and this wonderful country of Thailand.

I'm VERY happy now, 1 1/2 years later, a successful teacher, in a solid relationship, in a beautiful condo...

And I prefer "The Balcony" to the "Telephone Bar" (although I rarely visit either, since I rarely drink).

May Buddha bless this previous unhappy soul, who either couldn't make the transition, or was killed trying.

Pawpcorn

Edited November 7, 2007 by Pawpcorn

[lazeeboy]

Briton falls to his death from 21st-floor condominium room

BANGKOK: -- A Briton fell from his death from his room on the 21st floor of a condominium in the heart of Bangkok.

Police said the body of Waltman Stephan Ronald, 49, was found dead on the floor of the car park of a condominium on Silom road at 3:30 pm Friday.

Police said the man might commit suicide.

-- The Nation 2007-11-03

A close friend knew this guy very well.

He had a health and drink problem but nothing serious enough to justify suicide.

He lived in Silom Suite and was an english teacher with a very very good salary at a prestigious school.

Extremely sad

RIP

if people want to top themselves there is nothing you can do to stop them

[geriatrickid]

Yes there is something that can be done to prevent suicide. It's called mental health care. Not all suicides arise from behavioural issues. Rather, they can be rooted in organic disturbances that bring about depression. Or, the physical pain of some injuries can be so overwhelming, that the only perceived escape for the tormented is suicide. Although I am a cold and heartless fellow when it comes to the emotional problems of the "teacher" community, I do recognize that those teachers are someone's son/daughter, brother/sister etc. and are often taken advantage of. No family deserves the torment, shame and pain that a suicide brings.

As for there being a perceived higher than expected number of suicides in Pattaya, I'm not surprised. The population demographics support it; Older (susceptible to alcohol or other health induced suicide), financially precarious positions for some, limited social circles including being cut off from community and family, and a large starting pool of dysfunctional people to start off with. I think if you distributed the ages, the Pattaya stats would show a concentration of suicides with the 50+ crowd, vs the usual expected under 30 yrs. group of the total population because it reflects the actual suicide pop pool.

Look at it another way. The reason alot of people in geriatric care facilities die of cancer or heart disease is due to the fact that the places are filled with old folks, not because the nursing homes cause cancer or heart disease.

[Ijustwannateach]

Well, I think the news value of this topic has been exhausted- no one else seems to have new information- so I am closing it under this article of the rules:

1) You will not use thaivisa.com to post any material... referencing suicide...

If you believe you have more informatiop on this specific case as a news topic, PM me and we'll update the thread.

"Steven"