A Kamphaeng Phet man bled to death after having a neighbour extract his tooth with a rock tied to a string, police said Thursday.

Pree Namthip, 64, was found dead at the door of his house in Muang district having bled out from the mouth, said Pol Lt Col Khamron Chanthip, a duty officer at Muang police station, who was alerted around 11.20pm on Wednesday.

Several packs of pain relievers were found at the scene. There were no traces of bruising on his body, Thai media reported today.

Mayuree Namthip, 29, his niece, told police that her uncle complained of a toothache a day before. So he hired his neighbour, Tee, a butcher, to pull the tooth for 20 baht by using traditional methods.

One end of a string was tied to his rotting molar and the other to a stone. Tee then threw the stone and the tooth was yanked out.

However, Pree suffered excessive bleeding. He complained of severe pain and took several packs of pain pills, but nothing improved, said Ms Mayuree.

Pain relievers containing aspirin can thin blood and slow clotting.

On Wednesday night, her uncle died, prompting her to alert police.

Police interrogated his relatives and found that the man was also a heavy drinker and had several chronic diseases.  His relatives told police Mr Pree did not like to see doctors when ill.

His body was sent to Kamphaeng Phet Hospital to determine the official cause of death. Police, meanwhile, planned to summons Tee for questioning.