Swedish tourist falls to death from slippery Phuket bar

PHUKET: A Swedish tourist fell to his death early this morning while dancing on top of a bar counter in Patong.

“Witnesses in the bar said that the man had been drinking before he decided to climb onto the countertop and dance,” said a Kusoldharm Patong rescue foundation worker.

“The bar was wet and slippery. He slipped and hit his head hard on the ground,” said the worker.

Rescuers were alerted at 1am today of the accident and rushed to the scene, near the OTOP Market in Patong.

When they arrived, they found the body of Lars Hasselberg, 57, on the ground.

“We did not see any blood or wounds on his body,” said the rescue worker.

“Mr Hasselberg died as a result of severe head trauma,” Patong Hospital Director Dr Sirichai Silapa-acha told the Phuket Gazette.

The Swedish embassy has been notified of Mr Hasselberg’s death.

— Thawit Billabdullar