29y-old Briton Dies In Phuket Suicide Plunge

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Briton, 29, dies in Phuket suicide plunge

PHUKET: -- A British man fell to his death from a Patong hotel yesterday in what Phuket Police believe was an act of suicide.

Case officer Nitikorn Rawang of the Kathu Police identified the deceased as 29-year-old Mark Edward Stevens of the United Kingdom.

Police were notified by hotel staff that a man fell to his death from atop a hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, the main commercial thoroughfare in Patong, Lt Nitikorn said.

Arriving at the scene with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers they found the body of Mr Stevens with a cracked skull and lacerations to both arms.

Mr Steven’s remains were taken to Patong Hospital for examination.

Initial investigation revealed that Mr Stevens arrived in Phuket two weeks ago.

In his pocket police found a letter of apology to his parents.

Mr Stevens wrote that he had been unable to resolve a conflict between himself and his elder brother and that had chosen to end his life as a result.

The nature of the problem between the siblings was not specified in the letter.

Mr Stevens chose to take his life in Phuket because it was one of his favorite places, the letter read.

An investigation of the hotel where Mr Stevens was staying uncovered whisky bottles in his third story room and bloodstains leading from the room to the roof of the five-story building.

A security guard who witnessed the fall said he went up to the rooftop soon after the fall but found nobody there.

Given witnesses accounts, police presume the death was a suicide but are still awaiting a medical report to confirm the cause of death, Lt Nitikorn said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-07-19