Bangkok rescue workers have saved the life of a suicidal Filipino man who was threatening to slash his own throat on the roof of the house he was living.
Nation Thailand reports that following a 3 hour standoff in which they attempted to negotiate with the distressed man, rescuers eventually managed to overpower him.
The incident happened on Tuesday, October 17, in the Bang Bua Thong of Nonthaburi. It’s understood the unnamed Filipino is a 43 year old English teacher at a school in the Ramkhamhaeng area of the capital.
According to local residents, the man had climbed onto the roof, where he was threatening to use broken roof tiles to cut his own throat. The Filipino also continued to throw pieces of broken tiles onto the ground below.
Police were alerted and arrived at the two-storey townhouse with rescue workers from both the Bang Bua Thong disaster prevention office and the Ruamkatanyu Foundation.
Rescuers then climbed up onto the roof, where they spent 3 hours negotiating with the distraught man, trying to persuade him to come back down. They eventually overpowered him, tying him to a rescue board and carrying him back down.
PHOTO: Kaoded
Nation Thailand reports that during the operation, one rescue worker fell from the roof, injuring his left leg. He was rushed to Bang Bua Thong Hospital for treatment while police took the Filipino to be treated for minor injuries sustained on the roof.
He was then taken to the police station to wait for family members who came to take him home.
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
