PATONG, THAILAND – A 53-year-old Russian tourist suffered a serious head injury after falling from a fourth-floor hotel balcony in Patong, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Alarm in early evening
Police said they were called to a hotel in Kathu district at 6:05 p.m. after a fall was reported.
At the scene, Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Memkchai from the Patong Police Station took charge of the initial investigation.
Fall ends on second-floor balcony
According to preliminary findings, the woman fell from the fourth floor and landed on the balcony of a second-floor room.
Rescue workers found Russian national Iuliia Bondarenko (53) lying on her back with a head injury, while no other visible injuries were initially recorded.
Husband describes argument
Officers questioned her husband, Eduard Leshchnko (53), also a Russian citizen, who gave his account of the events.
He said the couple had arrived in Phuket as tourists the same day and checked into the hotel at about 4 p.m., before an argument broke out in their room.
Minutes before the fall
According to the husband’s statement, his wife went to sit on the rear balcony of the room after the dispute and shortly afterwards plunged downwards.
Police documented the scene, carried out detailed forensic work and closely examined the location in order to clarify the exact sequence of events.
Investigation ongoing, cause unclear
At the time of reporting, the case was treated as an ongoing investigation because officers had not yet determined the precise cause of the fall.
In such situations, it was typically examined whether an accident, personal responsibility or other factors played a role, without authorities committing to any conclusion at this stage.
Second case: fall during climbing attempt
Also in Patong, a 23-year-old tourist from Belarus was taken to Patong Hospital with two broken legs and other serious injuries.
She had reportedly forgotten her room key after a night out and, instead of waking hotel staff, attempted to climb via a fire escape to her room on the second floor, losing her grip and falling while in an intoxicated state.
Safety concerns for holidaymakers
Such incidents highlighted how quickly a holiday could become life-threatening within seconds because of disputes, alcohol or risky improvisation on hotel buildings.
The report raised the question of which safety rules hotels, authorities and travellers should enforce more consistently so that falls in tourist areas become less frequent.
“Such incidents show how quickly a holiday can become life-threatening within seconds because of disputes, alcohol or risky improvisation on hotel buildings.”
said The Thaiger, source report.
“Which safety rules should hotels, authorities and travellers in your view enforce more consistently so that falls in holiday regions occur less frequently?”
said The Thaiger, source report.