Broke Brit commits suicide in Phuket

Broke Brit commits suicide in Phuket

An elderly Englishman who said he had run out of money is reported to have committed suicide by jumping from a radio transmission tower after being taken to a tourist police station in Phuket province.

The 64-year-old plunged from the 12 metre high tower to the ground. His body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a post morten examination.

Reports said the man had dined at a local restaurant, but had no money to pay the bill.

The restaurant called the police, who took him to the station to sober him up. Instead, the man sneaked out and climbed up the radio tower. He lamented that he owed about 30,000 baht for room and board but had ran out of money to pay for them, according to police. He said his request to the British embassy for help two weeks ago had gone unanswered.

Police said he stayed up the tower for about 10 minutes, ignoring pleas to come down, and then jumped.

The embassy will be asked to contact his relatives.

The man had been staying at a hotel in Kratu district since Oct 6, but when asked to pay his bill on Monday he told the hotel that he had spent all the money and was waiting for his relatives to wire him funds from his home country. The hotel refused to accept his explanation.


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