Sri Racha-
A mysterious death occurred at a temple in Sri Racha district on February 12th, 2026, when a 27-year-old man was found lifeless next to a broken tap after reportedly consuming excessive amounts of tap water and bathing himself repeatedly for nearly half an hour.
The incident took place behind the pavilion at Wat Khao Chi Thammanimit in the Nong Kham subdistrict. Rescue personnel from the Pure Yeang Thai Si Racha unit were alerted around 2:00 p.m. following a report of an unidentified deceased individual. Police Lieutenant Colonel Kongphon Techakamphu, an investigator from Nong Kham Police Station, along with rescue volunteers, arrived to examine the scene.
The victim was identified as Mr. Kitthana Khaoyongyangyuen, 27, a resident of Moo 7. His body was discovered lying next to a damaged outdoor tap, from which water continued to flow. He was shirtless, wearing blue three-quarter jeans, with a black wristwatch removed and placed nearby. A black shoulder bag containing his national ID card and official documents was found beside him.
An initial examination of the body revealed no visible signs of assault or external injuries. Authorities estimated that he had been deceased for approximately 2-3 hours prior to discovery.
Surveillance footage from the temple’s closed-circuit cameras captured the man’s unusual behavior starting around 12:45 p.m. He repeatedly drank from the tap, poured water over his body to bathe himself, and paced back and forth in the area for nearly 30 minutes. He consumed large quantities of tap water, eventually vomiting, before returning to drink more. Eventually, he appeared unable to stand, sat down beside the tap (which broke under the circumstances), gradually collapsed, and passed away on the spot.
Monks at the temple reported that the man had arrived earlier that morning asking for drinking water. A monk provided him with some, marking the first time they had seen him. He then wandered near the ordination hall, swinging a stick in a manner that alarmed the monks. Around noon, they offered him food and snacks out of caution, while keeping distance due to his behavior and the stick he carried.
The man told the monks that his relatives had driven him out to live in the forest or mountains, leaving him thirsty, which prompted him to come down to the temple. His demeanor suggested possible drug influence. He consumed the provided snacks before moving to the back of the pavilion, where he began interacting with the water tap.
Monks later heard the continuous flow of water and vomiting sounds. Assuming at first that monkeys had damaged the tap, one monk went to check and discovered the man unconscious. He alerted senior monks, who suspected he had fainted from playing in the water. They then contacted authorities.
Police documented the scene for evidence, notified the victim’s relatives, and are proceeding with standard legal procedures, including further investigation into the cause of death. No foul play has been indicated at this stage, though the exact circumstances remain under review.
