British Pensioner Falls to Death from 10th Floor in Pattaya

A British pensioner tragically fell to his death from the tenth floor of the D-Beach Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand, on the evening of July 29, 2023. The 74-year-old man, originally from Prestatyn, Wales, was discovered lying face down on a busy road in a pool of blood. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise prior to the fall, described by Phanuthat Thanakasemphakin, a local Special Affairs officer, as similar to a “transformer explosion.” He was working nearby when he rushed to the scene, where he found the elderly man gasping for air. Despite immediate attempts to assist him, the pensioner succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

Pattaya police cordoned off the area with white cloth as they began collecting evidence. Police Lieutenant Manasak Ponyiam confirmed that foul play was not suspected. “We inspected the scene and collected evidence from the area,” he stated. “The deceased had been staying in room 1079 on the tenth floor of the hotel. We checked his room and found no signs of assault or ransacking.”

Investigators reviewed security footage from the previous day, which showed no one entering or leaving the room except for the victim. As the inquiry continues, authorities are working to determine whether the fall was an accident or a deliberate act. The body has been sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for a post-mortem examination, and hotel employees will be questioned to gather more information.

This incident is part of a worrying trend in Thailand, where several tourists have fallen to their deaths from hotel balconies in recent months. Notably, on July 19, a Russian tourist reportedly fell from the roof of a pool villa in Phuket, and a day earlier, an American tourist died after similarly falling from a tenth-floor hotel balcony in Chiang Mai.

In June, a Ukrainian circus acrobat, Veronika Kobzova, also fell to her death after misstepping while near a pool. Witnesses indicated that she lost her balance and fell into an alley below. She was pronounced dead shortly after the incident.

As the investigation into the circumstances of the British pensioner’s fall continues, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has been approached for comment regarding safety measures for tourists in Thailand. Authorities are emphasizing the need for awareness and caution among travelers in areas with high-rise accommodations.