Udon Thani man rescued from roof after drug-induced hallucinations

Police managed to rescue a man experiencing drug-induced hallucinations, who climbed onto his roof and refused to come down. The man, who had been in this state for several days, was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment.

At 11.30am yesterday, October 2, Deputy Inspector Wichaneth Suetrong and his team were patrolling their area when they received a report about a man causing a disturbance in the Nong Tao Lek community in Udon Thani. The man, identified as 48 year old Phakawat, had locked himself inside his single-storey home and was making loud noises. The police called out to Phakawat, asking him to open the door but he did not respond.

Shortly after, neighbours informed the police that Phakawat had climbed out of a bedroom window and onto the roof of a neighbouring house, where he lay down under the shade of a mango tree. Despite efforts by the police and locals to persuade him to come down, Phakawat remained unresponsive.

The police assured him they would take him to see a doctor, to which Phakawat sat up, clasped his hands together, and pleaded, “Help me.” However, he still refused to come down.

Phakawat then began chanting a Buddhist prayer, Burapa Rasming, and only after completing the chant did he agree to descend from the roof. Once on the ground, locals offered him cold water and coffee.

Phakawat admitted he had recently consumed one methamphetamine pill, provided by a friend, but claimed he did not use drugs regularly. He explained that he had climbed onto the roof because he heard voices in his head, telling him that someone was coming to kill him, prompting him to seek refuge and chant a protective prayer.

Drug hallucinations

After drinking the coffee, police escorted Phakawat into his house to retrieve his identification card, intending to take him to Udon Thani Central Hospital for treatment. As they tried to get him into the vehicle, Phakawat resisted, struggling and chanting prayers.

The police and locals had to restrain him and handcuff him while he called out for his mother, insisting, “I am not wrong, don’t hurt me.” Despite his resistance, they finally managed to get him into the vehicle and took him to the hospital, reported KhaoSod.

Witnesses described how earlier that morning, they saw Phakawat chanting by the pond, though they were unaware of the content of his prayers. He then entered a noodle shop, asking for a place to hide but was told not to enter other people’s homes.

A witness also mentioned that Phakawat had previously been verbally abusive towards his wife, even continuing to do so after her death, seemingly due to his drug-induced hallucinations.