New Zealander found hanged in Patong hotel
A New Zealand man has been found hanged in a room at a hotel in Patong.
Patong Police were notified the incident at the Deevana Plaza Hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road in Patong yesterday at 4pm.
Police and emergency responders arrived at the hotel room to find the body of a foreign man who was later identified as 49 year old Darrin John Pakenham from Auckland. He was found hanged using a belt inside the bathroom. Police report no signs of a struggle on his body. His body was taken to Patong Hospital for further examination.
The family of Mr. Pakenham raised the alert when they were unable to contact him. Staff went to check the man’s room when they discovered him hanging in the bathroom.
The man’s passport and phone were still in the room, along with 2,120 baht in cash, plus a small amount of Malaysian currency.
Police are continuing their investigation.
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).
