Thai boy hugs mum for last time before taking his own life with aunt’s gun

A 13 year old Thai boy hugged his mother for the last time before taking his own life with his aunt’s gun at a family home in the central province of Ayutthaya yesterday, November 18.

Officers from Mueang Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation investigated the incident at a house in the Ban Pom sub-district of Mueang district.

The single-storey house, which also operated as a food stall, became the site of the tragedy. The boy‘s lifeless body was found in his bedroom. The deceased, identified as 13 year old Chayut, also known as Phut, was found sitting on his bed with his back against a pile of pillows.

Phut suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead. A .38 gun used in the incident was discovered next to him. Police found no signs of a struggle or theft.

Phut’s aunt, 42 year old Paphada, admitted responsibility for keeping the gun, which belonged to her late grandfather, a former government official.

Paphada explained that the weapon, along with a single bullet, was stored separately and hidden in her bedroom, as she believed the children in the house were unaware of its existence. However, CCTV footage showed Phut retrieving the gun from her room.

Normal level of stress

According to reports from Kom Chad Luek, the house where Phut’s body was found belonged to his grandmother. Although Phut’s parents lived nearby, he often stayed with his grandmother.

Phut’s mother, 33 year old Thanchita, described her son as a typical young boy with normal stresses for his age. She explained that Phut tended to keep his problems to himself and only shared them when she directly asked him.

Recently, family members criticised Phut for waking up late, spending too much time on his mobile phone, and playing video games excessively. On the evening of the tragedy, Phut approached his mother and asked for a hug. After they embraced, he returned to his grandmother’s house, where he took his own life.

Phut’s grandmother was the first to discover his body. She heard a gunshot from his bedroom, which was locked. Using a spare key, she entered the room and found her grandson dead.

Thanchita urged families to keep dangerous weapons out of children’s reach, noting that children nowadays gain significant knowledge about weapons through social media platforms and often know how to use them. She stressed the importance of vigilance to prevent similar tragedies.

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.