Police coax would-be jumper to safety
PATONG: A drunken man horrified people in the Soi Kebsap area of Patong this morning by threatening to jump to his death from the 18th floor of the Patong Tower.
The drama started at about 8:30 am after the man, identified by police only by his nickname “Aek”, put one leg over the balcony railing and began flailing his arms wildly.
Pol Lt Col Narong Laksanawimol of the Kathu Police Station led a team of 15 officers to the scene, where a 5×5-meter air cushion was deployed on the ground to break Aek’s fall in case he went though with his threat.
Col Narong was one of four negotiators who, after about two hours of persuasion, finally convinced the man to come down. The colonel later told the Gazette that Aek had become distraught after an argument with his girlfriend and was “out of control” from alcohol.
The negotiations were slow, he added, because the man was afraid of the police and had initially refused to talk to them.
Col Narong said he explained to Aek that they were only there to help him and would not press charges. They then persuaded him to think about his family and the effect it would have on them if he jumped.
After he agreed to give up his suicide bid, Aek was escorted to Patong Hospital for treatment.
