PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 38-year-old German man died after falling from the ninth floor of a Pattaya hotel in the night to 12 March, with police initially suspecting suicide linked to private and financial problems.
Night-time fall in Soi Pratumnak 5
According to police, the incident occurred late on 11 March at about 11:35 p.m. at a hotel in Soi Pratumnak 5 in Chon Buri province. The man was found lifeless beside the building and was pronounced dead at the scene from the impact of the fall.
Police and rescue teams secure evidence
Police Lieutenant Pakorn Prakobnan of Pattaya City Police Station received the report and informed his superior, Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu, the station chief. Investigators and a police team, together with volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence.
Discovery on rooftop – shoes left near the edge
On the ninth-floor rooftop, officers found a pair of shoes believed by investigators to have belonged to the deceased, left close to the edge. Police stated that the man had been staying in a second-floor room, where no signs of a fight or struggle were found.
Girlfriend collapses at the scene
Shortly after the incident, the man’s girlfriend arrived at the hotel and appeared visibly distraught while the investigation was under way, according to police. She was questioned by officers and remained at the scene in tears during the procedures.
Argument, separation and a hidden family life
According to the girlfriend, whose name was withheld for police reasons, the couple had argued previously and had been separated for about two months. She told officers that the separation had been triggered when she learned the German already had a family, but said she had not expected he might take his own life.
Rent arrears and financial strain as possible motive
Hotel staff told police the man had been facing financial difficulties and had not paid his rent for two months. Investigators viewed the combination of personal conflicts and money problems as a possible background to the fall, but stressed that the investigation was not yet complete.
Autopsy to provide clarity
Rescue workers transferred the body for a formal autopsy to forensically confirm the cause of death. Police said they would collect additional evidence and wait for the autopsy results before reaching a final assessment of the case.
Help in crisis – hotlines in Thailand
In Thailand, round-the-clock help was available for people in emotional crisis, including the Samaritans of Thailand on 02 713 6791 (English) and 02 713 6793 (Thai), as well as the state Mental Health Hotline 1323 (Thai). Authorities urged anyone feeling overwhelmed, lonely or desperate to seek immediate support and, in addition to professional help, to reach out to friends or relatives.