Destitute British Man In Death Plunge: Phuket

[webfact]

Destitute British man in death plunge

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A financially destitute 64-year-old British national took a plunge from a radio mast at the Phuket Tourist Police Station in Phuket Town yesterday morning.

Tourist Police Sgt Maj Phayong Tipsombat, who was on duty at the station, told the Phuket Gazette that about 7:15am he heard shouting from the back of the police station and went to investigate. On discovering someone climbing the radio mast he contacted the Kusoldham rescue foundation and relevant departments, requesting an air-cushion.

“We were trying to convince the man to climb back down, but 10 minutes later he jumped off the radio tower to his death,” he explained.

Sgt Maj Phayong said that the man had been picked up from a Patong hotel on October 29 after failing to pay rent amounting to over 10,000 baht. He was being held at the police station while the British Honorary Consul Martin Carpenter liaised with the UK Embassy to arrange his flight home.

“At 5am this morning, he asked for a glass of water then went back to his accommodation at the back of the station. We had no idea that anything was out of the ordinary,” said Sgt Maj Phayong.

Tourist Police Division 5 Superintendent Yotsavee Pornperaparn told the Phuket Gazette, “Since we picked him up we’ve taken good care of him. We provided accommodation, food and contacted relevant departments to help him fly back home – he wanted to go back home.”

“He had a one month tourist visa which expires November 5,” Col Yotsavee added.

The identity of the man is known by the Phuket Gazette, but is being withheld until next of kin are notified.

The man’s body was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...unge-19318.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-11-02

[phuturatica]

Very sad that it all came to this after 10,000 baht. May he RIP.

[rixalex]

Very sad that it all came to this after 10,000 baht. May he RIP.

I fancy his problems might have run a little deeper than 10,000 baht.

Sorry for his family.

[angsta]

Very sad. RIP.

[Rionoir]

Very sad that it all came to this after 10,000 baht. May he RIP.

Seriously doubt that was the extent of his troubles

[LivinginKata]

Very sad, suspect there is more to be reported.

[twinpin]

Why would he come to Thailand with a tourist visa and no return ticket?

Must have been planing to stay and it all went horribly wrong. A real tragedy

[webfact]

Broke Briton jumps to death in Phuket

The Nation November

PHUKET: -- A 64-year-old Briton chose to jump to his death yesterday as he waited in vain for help from the British Embassy and his relatives at a Tourist Police office in Phuket.

Kenneth Caldwell reportedly ran out of money while vacationing on the popular island for nearly a month. Records show that he arrived in Phuket early last month. Then on October 27, a hotel in Patong alerted police, saying he had failed to pay his room and food bills worth about Bt30,000.

Two days later, Phuket Tourist Police moved Caldwell to their office and arranged for him to contact his relatives and the British Embassy.

"He was provided with shelter and food while waiting for help," Muang Phuket Police Station inspector Lt-Colonel Anek Mongkhon said yesterday.

Witnesses said they saw a foreigner climbing up a radio tower at the Tourist Police office yesterday morning and though police officers tried to talk him down, the man ended up jumping to his death from a height of 15 metres.

An autopsy has been conducted on the body and the victim's relatives will be contacted via the embassy.

-- The Nation 2012-11-03

[inapeartree]

Sad story, RIP.

[asiawatcher]

Aged and broke in Thailand is not a nice option. I guess he figured family were not an option or he'd simply had enough.

[Chads]

Seen this happen to some people I know, do everything you can to make sure this never happens to you. Sometimes, in Thailand, you feel like being so generous because you think you can afford it. But sometimes it goes downhill all together, and then what?

I'm not trying to speculate and stereotype the cause of him getting broke, but you know after being here for a while, you kinda can't help but get a clue.

Edited November 4, 2012 by Chads

[rixalex]

At 64 you imagine like most of us in life he had got through his ups and downs. Seems so sad to get to that ripe old age and then decide you can't cope. Supposed to be the age of enjoying the fruits of all your labour. Sadly doesn't seem to work out that way for some.

[redroo]

Always have money for

plan A>thailand

plan B>homeland

But thailand has a way of numbing the brain.

Spending planA&B (Savings&credit card)!

And when one's old and or retired there's no real way back home.