Pattaya —
At 5:00 PM on November 8th, 2024, Pattaya City Police were alerted to a drowning incident at Jomtien Beach.
Arriving at the scene, officers found a crowd of tourists anxiously watching as rescuers attempted to revive an elderly man, approximately 60+ years old, of unknown name and nationality. It is unclear if the man is a foreign national as of press time.
Dressed in a long-sleeve shirt, trousers, and ankle-strapped shoes, the man had no identification on him.
Despite efforts to perform CPR, he was pronounced dead, having been without air for a prolonged period. Initial checks revealed no signs of foul play, according to the rescuers.
Eyewitness Ms. Sirilak Sriphet, 61, explained that the elderly man, who had a leg disability and a wheelchair, had previously entered the water before a boat operator noticed something amiss and brought him back to shore to his wheelchair.
Later, he was seen slowly heading back into the water. Moments later, bystanders observed him drifting and facedown in the sea, prompting a foreign tourist to dive in and pull him back, according to Sirilak.
Unfortunately, it was too late to save him.
Initially, the police are considering two possibilities: An accident, exacerbated by his disability, or a suicide attempt, as the man was fully clothed, which is unusual for swimming. His body has been sent to the Police General Hospital’s forensic department for further investigation.
