German methadone survivor out of Phuket ICU

PHUKET: A German man whose male partner died of an apparent methadone overdose by penile injection last week is out of a coma, staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital have confirmed.

The German, in his mid-30s, was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital from Bangkok International Hospital last Friday.

“He was released from the ICU [on Tuesday], but is still under close observation by medical staff. He sleeps most of the time. We have already contacted his relatives abroad through the embassy,” a staff member of the hospital’s international department told the Phuket Gazette.

“His internal organs, including his kidneys, are still in a worrying condition,” the officer said.

The officer said she did not believe the surviving patient overdosed through injection, either to the penis or any other part of the body.

“We didn’t find any injection marks anywhere on his body. He might be a drug overdose victim, but if so we are not sure how he administered the drug,” the officer said.

— Atchaa Khamlo