British man commits suicide, leaving sand messages for Thai wife
A British man left messages in the sand for his wife and children before taking his own life on Cha-am Beach in the southern province of Phetchaburi. He was reportedly distressed over two legal cases and a 400,000-baht loss to a friend.
A Thai tourist discovered the lifeless body of the British man, later identified as 42 year old Antony Gerrard Kelly at an abandoned beachfront pavilion on Cha-am Beach yesterday, December 8. Kelly was found hanging in the pavilion.
He was wearing a dark blue shirt, long trousers, and a black cap, with his eyes covered by a cloth. Nearby, a Bible and bedding set were found, but no personal identification documents were present at the scene.
Kelly ‘s Thai wife, 47 year old Sawat Boonsa-ard, who had been searching for her husband, arrived at the scene and identified him to the officers from Cha-am Police Station.
Upon inspecting the area, officers found that Kelly left messages for his wife and children. He used sand to write messages on the floor and a seat in the pavilion, including a heart symbol, a heart with the words “Bad Girl Forever,” and the date of his death.
According to Sawat, Gerrard left their home on December 4 and disappeared. She reported his disappearance to police and searched for him but found no trace of him until yesterday.
Sawat believed her husband’s suicide was driven by stress over two legal cases and the loss of 400,000 baht. Kelly was reportedly under two arrest warrants for theft and attempted murder after allegedly firing shots at a cannabis shop owned by a foreigner in the Hua Hin area.
Sawat further revealed that a foreign friend of Kelly promised to help him avoid prison if he paid 400,000 baht. However, the friend scammed him, taking the money and betraying him.
Gerrard’s body is currently undergoing an autopsy at Phra Chomklao Phetchaburi Hospital.
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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