Australian dies at hospital after leap from Phuket balcony

PHUKET: The Australian Embassy has contacted the relatives of a 25-year-old Australian man who succumbed to his injures around midnight last night after having plunged from the third floor of a Patong building.

A food shop vendor along Soi Kepsap 2, off Sai Nam Yen Road, contacted Lt Col Jongserm Preecha of the Patong Police when she saw the Australian, Joshua John Smits, standing on the balcony of the building threatening to jump.

“The man was in a manic condition when we arrived,” said Col Jongserm. “We tried to negotiate with him and get the basket crane from Patong Municipality to lower him down, but we didn’t have time.”

Mr Smits jumped, hitting his head on a low cement wall before landing on the ground, said Col Jongserm.

According to the food vendor, Somporn Sangkeaw, the Australian had gained access to the third-floor room of the apartment building because a housekeeper was cleaning it.

— Irfarn Jamdukor