A 35 year old Russian man has died after jumping from the top of a 6 storey pagoda at Chalong Temple. The Phuket Express reports that friends of the man say they believe he was hallucinating after “drinking water mixed with an unknown substance”.
At around 5.20pm on Friday, July 7, Chalong police and rescue workers were notified that a man had climbed to the top of a pagoda at Wat Chaithararam, Phuket’s most famous temple at Wat Chalong.
It’s understood the man spent several hours threatening to jump, while police, rescue workers, even the Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, tried to persuade him to come down. A ladder was produced as the authorities continued to negotiate with the Russian man, and a large inflatable mattress was also placed on the ground.
At around 8.40pm, as rescuers were trying to pull the man off the pagoda, he jumped, landing on the air mattress. The man was injured as a result of his jump and was given CPR at the scene.
It’s understood the Russian also went into shock and was intubated before being transported to a local hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
According to the Phuket Express, Chalong Mayor Tanaphon Ongsantiparb says officials spoke with the man’s friends and they say he drank water mixed with an unknown substance and then began hallucinating.
Police have launched an investigation.
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, the Samaritans of Thailand can be contacted 24 hours a day on the following hotline numbers: 02 713 6791 (English) and 02 713 6793 (Thai). The Thai Mental Health Hotline can be reached on 1323 (Thai).
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
