Missing salesman found, died of drug abuse

Missing salesman found, died of drug abuse

Siriraj doctors and police explain the cause of the death of Rattaphum Pimjaisai to the media on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Siriraj Hospital)
Siriraj doctors and police explain the cause of the death of Rattaphum Pimjaisai to the media on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Siriraj Hospital)

The missing car salesman whose body has finally been found in the Siriraj Hospital morgue died of kidney and liver failure, and had been a heavy user of methamphetamine, according to doctors.

At a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Dr Papanu Suthiprasit, of the forensic science department of the faculty of medicine, Siriraj Hospital, confirmed the identity of the body in the mortuary.

The previously unidentified man, who was admitted to the hospital on Dec 20 last year and died on Dec 30, was missing salesman Rattaphum Pimjaisai, he said.

The identification was made in a post-mortem examination, which also found no indication of violence.

Blood and organ tests revealed his kidneys, liver and other internal organs were in a deteriorating condition.  He had also ingested a large quantity of methamphetamine, which was likely to have caused organ damage and failure, Dr Papanu said.

Dr Papanu said two injuries on the face and the back of the neck were not the cause of death.

His unusual actions seen on security cameras footage before he was taken to the hospital were likely caused by his use of methamphetamine, rather than a mental condition as surmised by witnesses.

The man was unconscious throughout the 10 days he was treated at the hospital.

Rattaphum's father, La-iad Pimjaisai, said he had no doubts about the cause of his son's death and would not request a second autopsy.  His son's body would be taken to Bang Pla Ma district, Suphan Buri province, for funeral rites.

Police said Rattaphum, 34, was last seen near Boromratchonnanee Soi 78 in Thawi Watthana district on Dec 20.

His wife, Nuntiya Wuwanwasee, reported his disappearance to Thammasala police on Jan 8. She had not heard from Rattaphun and was concerned for his safety.  A search was launched for the missing man.

Police investigators went to the area where Rattaphum was last seen.  They found a mobile phone that belonged to Rattaphum, along with his black leather shoes, 20,000 baht in cash and a Buddha image.

Eyewitnesses told the police that on Dec 20 they saw a man run back and forth across the road, acting as if he were mentally ill. The man finally fell unconscious on the road median strip near a pillar of an overpass.

Footage from security cameras in the area revealed the man was given help, and taken from the spot by civil defence volunteers of Thawi Watthana district to Siriraj Hospital about 8.23pm on Dec 20.

Still unidentified, the man had been treated at the hospital, until he was pronounced dead on Dec 30 at 8.30am.

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