Man kills himself in bonfire

Man kills himself in bonfire

A fireman sprays water on the still-smouldering bonfire in which a man is believed to have killed himself in an open area near a temple in Muang district, Khon Kaen province. (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)
A fireman sprays water on the still-smouldering bonfire in which a man is believed to have killed himself in an open area near a temple in Muang district, Khon Kaen province. (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)

KHON KAEN: A man who had long suffered from heart disease is believed to have committed suicide in a bonfire at a temple in Muang district of this northeastern province on Monday afternoon, police said.

The man left two Facebook messages apologising to his friends and saying "I cannot go on".

Pol Col Prawit Thoha, the Tha Phra police chief, said the fire was reported about 5pm, in an open area by Wat Pa Suan Monat Nong Khoi village in tambon Tha Phra. 

Police, a doctor and fire crew were rushed to the temple. 

They found a big fire of eucalyptus wood was still burning fiercely. When the flames were put out, they could see human bones among the embers A motor-tricycle loaded with motorcycle repair tools was parked nearby.

Sangwan Chaikat, 54, of Nong Khoi village, said she believed the remains were those of Chaiyan Sornharn, 50, her common-law husband of two years.

Chaiyan was a eucalyptus wood trader and motorcycle repairman. He had long suffered from heart disease and had undergone by-pass surgery, she said.

Ms Sangwan said a few days earlier Chaiyan had taken blocks of euclyptus wood from his shop on Tha Phra-Maha Sarakham road to the area beside Wat Pa Suan Mon, and left them there in a large pile. He said he intended to sell the shop.

She last saw him on Saturday. She went out looking for him, but to no avail.

She was certain her husband had killed himself in the bonfire. The motor-tricycle and the tools belonged to him.

Ms Sangwan said Chaiyan had earlier posted a farewell message on his Facebook page: "Goodbye all my friends of Class 3. I wish you happiness. Love all of you." 

In another Facebook message, he wrote: "I am so weak that I cannot walk. Please forgive me. I cannot go on."

Pol Col Prawit said police forensic examiners would confirm the dead man's identity and establish the cause of death.

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