Thai soldier dies in Bangkok public park in suspected suicide
A Thai soldier reportedly took his own life at a public volleyball court in Wachirabenchathat Park, also known as Rot Fai Park, in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok last night.
A group of people playing volleyball fled the court after hearing a gunshot close to them at around 8pm, yesterday, February 10.
Once the situation calmed, they returned to the scene and discovered the body of a man in the second row of the grandstand at the court.
Officers from Bang Sue Police Station, along with rescue personnel, were called to investigate the incident. Police identified the deceased as 32 year old Sergeant Major Third Class Sumate Phitphunphatsorn.
A bloodstained 9mm pistol was found near his body. The gunshot struck Sumate in the right temple, with the bullet remaining lodged in his head.
One of the volleyball players, Nat, told Channel 8 that he and others heard the gunshot very close to them. His friends immediately ran away, so he followed them. He did not know what happened but fled in case there was any danger.
Nat insisted that he did not know Sumate and had never seen him playing volleyball at the park before. He focused on the game and did not notice when Sumate sat in the grandstand.
Police have yet to officially confirm whether the case was murder or suicide. However, some Thai news agencies reported that Sumate had been suffering from depression and posted a death note on social media before taking his own life.
One media outlet also reported that Sumate experienced issues with a colleague before his death, although details of the conflict have not yet been disclosed.
In March last year, a Thai soldier in the central province of Prachin Buri reportedly attempted to take his own life within army premises by jumping from his dormitory. Although he survived, he suffered serious injuries.
The motive for his attempted suicide was said to be repeated bullying and pressure from senior officers at the base.
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.
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