Stop man from jumping to death

[reader]

It's heartening to report that at least one man was saved from jumping to his death in Pattaya where it has become an all too common event.

From The Thaiger / Pattaya Mail

A potential tragedy was averted in Pattaya as quick-thinking police and rescuers stopped an American man from jumping to his death. The 67 year old man was rescued from a 20th-floor ledge of the Arbour Hotel and Residence on Third Road on Saturday.

Police and rescue volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation spoke to the man for four hours as he sat on a balcony ledge. When the man looked away, one of the rescuers quickly grabbed him and pulled him away from the ledge.

The man had checked into the hotel two days prior and was scheduled to leave the same day he was rescued. Concerned staff opened his room when he failed to leave and found him sitting on the balcony edge. The staff then contacted the authorities, Pattaya Mail reported.

Bang Lamung District Chief Phisit Sirisawatnukul stated that the man was struggling with chronic medical issues and was in a distressed state. He will be hospitalised and meet with a psychologist before being released.

Just last week, a 39 year old Chinese tourist jumped to his death from a 35-floor condominium/hotel in Bang Lamung’s Nong Prue sub-district. The victim was reported to have jumped from the 27th floor, as indicated by his key card found in a plastic bag attached to his arm with tape. The victim was dressed in a grey t-shirt and black/brown pants and sustained fatal injuries, being pronounced dead at the scene by the police.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek help.