Grieving Chiang Mai father kills himself in same spot son committed suicide
A grieving father has been found dead in front of his house in Chiang Mai’s Mae Wang district this morning in an apparent suicide. It was the same spot where his son killed himself last year, according to police.
Pol Lt Col Natthapol Jaikantha, deputy commander of the Mae Wang police station, said 57 year old Chankaew Sopha killed himself with a homemade sawn-off shotgun while lying on a mat in front of his house in Moo 6 village in Mae Win.
Natthapol said the shotgun was still in his hand when they found him and that he’d shot himself in the mouth.
A suicide note was found nearby, saying he had attempted to kill himself nine times previously and this time he was confident he would be successful. The suicide note said Chankaew wanted to join his son in the next life.
His neighbours told police that they saw Chankaew lying on a mat in front of his house before they heard the gunshot. They came out to check and found the man dead.
Neighbours say the man became depressed after his son committed suicide at the same spot in the middle of last year.
STORY: The Nation
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).
