Weights and fate: Dumbbells tie man to tragic river end

A group of tourists discovered the dead body of a Thai man in the Khwae Noi River, in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The man was found tied to a backpack containing several dumbbells, weighing 12 kilogrammes. Police suspect that he may have intended to drown himself.

The tourists reported their shocking discovery to the Khunnadham Kanchanaburi Foundation at about 11am. yesterday, September 8. They explained that they were on a rafting trip along the Khwae Noi River when they found the body floating in the middle of the river, near the Sai Yok Yai Waterfall.

Rescuers rushed to the scene to retrieve the body from the river. According to the rescue team, the deceased was identified as a 29 year old Thai man, Burit. The body was bloated and began to decompose but there were no visible wounds. Officers believe he died for at least four days before the discovery.

The lifeless body was tied to a black backpack, and officers found three dumbbells, weighing about 12 kilogrammes, inside the bag. His mobile phone, house key, car key, cash, and ID card were also found in the bag.

Officers from Sai Yok Police Station investigated the death but did not find any suspicious signs of physical assault. There was also no report of a missing person in the area. Officers stated that the case could be either a murder or a suicide.

Police later successfully contacted Burit’s family. The family reported that Burit disappeared from their shared home five days earlier. He left a suicide note in his bedroom, which prompted the family to search for him, but they were unsuccessful.

Personal issues

The family believed that Burit took his own life due to personal issues, which were not disclosed publicly.

In a related report, a South Korean man committed suicide in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, on August 11. A local fisherman witnessed the foreign man undressing, damaging his laptop, throwing cash, and walking into the river with the damaged laptop in hand.

The rescue team spent 12 hours searching for the South Korean man and found his lifeless body the following day.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please get in touch with 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.