BNK48 leader's brother in fatal fall

The 19-year-old younger brother of Cherprang Areekul, manager of the popular Thai idol girl group BNK48, died in a fall from the 9th floor of a high-rise building in Bangkok's Khlong San district early on Wednesday.

His fall was reported to Samray police about 3.45am.

Police, medics from Siriraj Hospital and rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, were rushed to the scene, a 27-floor luxury condominium building on Krung Thon Buri road in the Thon Buri area.

They found Chan Areekul, 19, lying face down with a cracked skull in the 5th floor car park. He was wearing trousers, but no shirt.

Police investigators said later the young man fell to his death from the 9th floor.

Police were questioning Chan's friends, hoping to establish how and why he fell. The body was sent to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for autopsy.

Cherprang Areekul and her younger brother Chan pose for a photo. (Photo: Cherprang BNK 48 Facebook)

Chan was a member of the Thai national youth bowling team in 2020.

He is a young brother of Ms Cherprang, a member of BNK48, an international sister group of the Japanese idol group AKB48.

Ms Cherprang, 26, is a first-generation member of BNK48 and currently listed as "captain and general manager".

Chan Areekul (Photo: charn__chaly Instagram)