Thai student jumps off pole after teacher conflict

PHOTO: iStock

A Thai male student, 15 years old, jumped off a mobile pole and died the following day. Only days after the student’s involvement in arguments with his teachers, the Thai student death incident occurred. They allegedly compelled him to apologize to them on his knees.

The incident took place on June 7 at around 7:20am near a local car care centre located along Yuthasart Road in Thung Song town, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. More than six hours after he had jumped from the pole, someone discovered the student’s body.

A staff member found black student shoes before the body was found, according to preliminary investigation. The boy’s school principal confirmed that the deceased was a 9th-grade student. Then, the school contacted the boy’s family, who lived nearby.

The car care staff reported hearing a loud noise the night before the incident, consistent with a collision. However, they found no unusual circumstances when they went out to investigate.

According to authorities, the boy climbed the mobile pole and jumped to his death without foul play The police questioned the boy’s family and his classmates and are further examining the case as an unnatural death.

Friends of the deceased presented footage that showed a teacher compelling a student to kneel and apologize. According to friends, the boy experienced stress regarding his haircut and the request to transfer schools. Another video featured a teacher forcefully pulling a student’s shirt collar; this student was also a friend of the deceased.

Family accompanied the body of the boy to the Wat Chaiyachumpol temple in Thung Song for funeral rituals, where the ceremony took place. The boy’s father, a high-ranking government official, claimed his son’s karma and stress for the incident. The Foundation for the Welfare of Teachers and School Personnel later sent a committee member, Lieutenant Abhirat Rattanapan, to investigate the case and ensure justice for the student.

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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Samantha Rose

Samantha was a successful freelance journalist who worked with international news organizations before joining Thaiger. With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from London, her global perspective on news and current affairs is influenced by her days in London, Singapore, and Bangkok. She now uncovers general stories related to Thailand.