Pattaya
Elderly British expat tries to save Thai man from bridge suicide attempt

A 70 year old British expat tried unsuccessfully to prevent a depressed Thai man jumping from a bridge in Pattaya yesterday. The Pattaya News reports that police were notified around 5.30pm and rushed to the scene at a pedestrian bridge on Sukhumvit Road, where a 45 year old Thai man, named by police as Boontieng Saokaew, lay injured.
It’s understood that Mr Boontieng had been standing on the bridge, shouting and threatening to jump, when Briton David Bechter intervened. Mr Bechter ran to Boontieng and attempted to stop him jumping but was unable to stop him.
Boontieng, who is understood to be suffering from mental illness, sustained chest injuries in the fall and was rushed to Bang Lamung Hospital for treatment.
The Pattaya News reports that the bridge jump yesterday afternoon was his second attempt after he’d already been prevented from jumping earlier that morning.
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).
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
Pattaya
Canadian senior seriously injured after fall in Pattaya

PHOTO: View over Pattaya from the Pratunmak Hill area
A Canadian museum owner has been injured after a fall in the upscale Pratumnak Hill area in Pattaya. Rescue workers were notified of the incident at 4pm yesterday (Tuesday) and rushed to the scene to find the 86 year old man with a broken leg. He was rushed to hospital.
According to his daughter, 24 year old Wannisa Sukjai, he had arrived in Pattaya just four days ago. She says her father and some friends were walking up Pratumnak Hill when he slipped on a rock and slid down an embankment where he came to rest, five metres below.
She’s asked that the ground along the walkway be cleaned to prevent similar accidents in future. Authorities say they will inspect the area and check on the man’s health.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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Pattaya Police up their game in knee-jerk reaction to German TV report

PHOTOS: The Pattaya News
If you want to get things moving in Thailand, make a documentary saying how bad things are and show it on international TV. A German documentary slamming Pattaya has so far had more success than a hundred directives from head office.
The documentary was titled Achtung Abzocke.
The documentary portrayed Pattaya in a less-than-flattering light, so city officials are upping their safety game, with local police announcing a raft of new measures aimed at protecting visitors. Some of them have already been introduced in a swift knee-jerk reaction to the scathing criticism.
Read The Thaiger’s story about the documentary HERE.
Thailand’s interior ministry issued instructions for security to be increased after the documentary criticised Pattaya as being unsafe for tourists and run by local and international ‘mafia’. Police have now set up new safety zones and patrols on Beach Road and in other popular ‘sin-city’ touristy areas.
The Pattaya News reports that the zones run from the Dusit Hotel to Central, from Central Festival to Mike’s Mall and from Mike’s Mall to Walking Street.
Police officers will carry out patrols on foot, as well as by bike and police vehicle. They will conduct checks on “suspicious individuals”, while reminding Thai people who may be enjoying a drink on the beach that they shouldn’t give tourists any problems.
The police say they are singling out Thai men and ‘ladyboys’ who appear alone at the beach or on Walking Street, due to a number of recently-reported crimes against foreigners. They will also carry out stop-and-search checks on cars, checking for drugs, weapons, or drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
Pattaya
Injured Irish tourist refuses to pay, starts fight, ends up on footpath in Pattaya

PHOTOS: The Pattaya News
An Irish tourist who was allegedly attacked at a bar shortly after arriving in Pattaya was in fact the instigator, according to the venue’s staff and management.
46 year old Bart O’Gready was found unconscious on a sidewalk and bleeding heavily from multiple wounds early yesterday morning. He claimed to have been attacked by bar security, and appeared confused and heavily intoxicated. Police immediately began searching for suspects and seeking information about the incident.
The bar’s female manager, 34 year old Naruemon Panadit and the four staffers involved in the incident, went to a Pattaya police station where they said O’Gready ordered a beer and refused to pay for it. He allegedly claimed to be Irish mafia and demanded to know why he had to pay, according to The Pattaya News.
When Naruemon threatened to call the police the man slapped her face and and staff came to her aid. The man continued to attack staff, falling down and hitting his face on the floor, according to staff, who then ushered him out of the venue.
Naruemon presented CCTV footage to police which she says proves her side of the story.
O’Gready has not filed a police report and has refused to comment at this stage. Police are continuing their investigation.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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