Middle Aged Swedish Man Drowns In Pattaya

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: June 9th 2008

MIDDLE-AGED SWEDISH MAN DROWNS IN PATTAYA HOTEL SWIMMING POOL

A middle-aged Swedish man, who police suspect was drunk, got into difficulties in a Pattaya hotel swimming pool on June 7, 2008. Pattaya rescue made an attempt to save his life, but unfortunately it was too late. Police presume that the man was either suffering from excess alcohol or had had a heart attack.

Pol.Lt.Col. Chalermkiet Sirimak, Dongtan Police Station, Jomtien, receiving information that a foreigner had almost drowned in the swimming pool of P.K. Resort Country Home, located in Jomtien Soi 12, sent a police team to investigate. On arrival at the swimming pool, they found a doctor from Pattaya International Hospital and Sawang Boriboon Rescue attempting to resuscitate Mr. Laine Esko Juhant, (61), a Swedish national, but as Mr. Juhant had already been dead for about 30 minutes, they could do nothing for him.

Later, Pol.Col. Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya Superintendent, arrived and questioned Miss Yupha Chomphu, the wife of the deceased, who was very distraught, holding her husband in her arms. Miss Yupha told police that her husband had rented a hotel room on a yearly basis to stay with her. Apparently, going for a morning swim was his daily routine, but on that morning, her husband had been drinking and was slightly drunk, before he went for his swim. She did not pay much attention until she was informed by a hotel staff member that her husband had been drowning in the swimming pool until another foreigner had helped him out of the water. She then immediately called the hospital to help.

Pol.Lt.Col. Chalermkiet presumed that Mr. Juhant could have been rendered incapable by alcohol before getting into the swimming pool. He might have suffered shock due to the heat of the sun, or might have had a heart attack, causing him to almost drown. However, until forensic tests have been carried out, police are unsure of the real cause of death. The Swedish Embassy has been informed accordingly.