Broke Elderly Brit Makes Fatal Leap in Phuket

[Pattaya Daily News]

A 64-year-old British tourist killed himself by jumping from a radio tower in Phuket after he ran out of money. The man refused police requests to come back down. After claiming the British embassy was too slow in helping him, he leaped to his death.

PHUKET – November 2, 2012 [PDN]: In front of police and rescue officers below, an elderly British man jumped to his death from a radio broadcasting pole, located behind the tourist police station on Yaowaraj Rd, Taladyai, Muang, Phuket. Rushing to assist the man after his fatal leap were police officers from the Muang Phuket police station and the rescue team from Kusolatham foundation Phuket.

The suicide victim was identified as Mr. Karwell Gennet, age 64, nationality British. The impact of the fall had broken the victim’s neck, back and both arms and left bruises on his head. The rescue team sent the body to Wachira Phuket hospital for an autopsy.

While investigating, the police discovered that Mr. Karwell had arrived in Phuket on October 6, and had stayed at a hotel until October 29. The hotel checked his bill and asked for payment. But Mr. Karwell had run out of money. He explained to hotel staff that he was waiting for relatives in Britain to send him more money. But the hotel evicted him.

Mr. Karwell had no money for food or lodging and asked the British embassy for help. However, he had to wait for assistance while his request was being processed. Mr. Karwell had one-month tourist visa set to expire on November 5. Meanwhile, the Phuket tourist police invited him to stay at the tourist police station while he was waiting for the cooperation from the embassy. They gave him a place to sleep and fed him.

However, without anyone noticing, Mr. Karwell went to the back of the police station and climbed up the radio broadcasting pole. When he reached the height of 30 meters, he began shouting, which attracted the attention of people. The police and rescue officers asked him to climb down the pole, but he refused.

Mr. Karwell told them he was British, and he came to travel in Phuket. But he ran out of his money, and had asked the embassy for help. But they did not help him, and he had been waiting more than two weeks. Then Mr. Karwell jumped off the tower.

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[jocky king]

Why did he come to Thailand with shortage of money . He should have budget his money for 30 days but spend it all within two weeks... RIP Karwell., Thailand is the worse place if you have no money..

[fiesta63]

very sad, but i cannot help but think that there is more behind this tradegy,

 

a 64 yr old man comes to thailand on a 30 day tourist visa, runs out of money within 23 days, gets food and lodgings, yet commits suicide 3 days before the visa expires and will need to leave, no mention in the story whether he had a return flight booked, if he had why kill yourself 3 days before you were flying home. if he didnt perhaps he never had any intentions returning home.

 

I suspect that he may have had problems in britain and decided to escape to LOS with the small amount of money he had, when this ran out he couldnt face going back or maybe had nothing to go back to and decided to end it all there and then

 

sad story, hope i never get in the situation where i feel i have nothing to live for

 

RIP

[nixonsbest]

Time will tell! RIP!

[Klongwater]

A few years ago,pictures like this were published uncensored and unpixelated. This one would have been a gory one.

[stanger69]

I agree there had to be more shit going on in this poor guy's life.

 

Serious question - considering how often this happens, is there any kind of help hotline or support network over there for english speaking tourists to reach out to? Sounds like a desperate need for it.

[Sexyfarangman]

My guess is that he went to Phuket for the express purpose of killing himself before the visa expired. He wanted one last fling in life. In short, there probably was no family in the UK that he was waiting to receive money from.

Edited November 3, 2012 by Sexyfarangman

[Skalliwag]

"And bruises to the head"?

That's a piss take.Fuckers.

[Addy John]

sad to hear this, desperate enough to take ya own life

[badboybilly]

He was obviously mentally unstable,he should of been locked up in immigration and deported.

Not sure what the British embassy were doing but it comes down to the thai immigration they should of assessed him and deported him.

Im sure if i went to Ireland or whatever and i went off the same way as him the cops would have me turned over to immigration and deport me to Australia just as the same way my ancestors were.

 

Its obvious he was a mentally unstable person.

Edited November 5, 2012 by badboybilly

[jobsworth]

I think that England is the worst place if you have no money.

Sleeping rough out in the cold. What a nightmare.

In Thailand you can usually find something.

[Big Bad Wolf]

I think that England is the worst place if you have no money.

Sleeping rough out in the cold. What a nightmare.

In Thailand you can usually find something.

.

I'd have to agree England or America would be a worse place to be broke, especially if your a male. If your a female, pretty good place to be broke.

[BahnKhamin]

I would suspect that this was the guys first time in LOS, got up with a couple of 23 year old missile twisters and spent all of his money on them.

[BahnKhamin]

.

I'd have to agree England or America would be a worse place to be broke, especially if your a male. If your a female, pretty good place to be broke.

I think that I would have to disagree with you about being broke in America depending on the location. I travel quite often to San Diego which has a rather large homeless population and they all seem to do quite well here. A couple of years ago the authorities even found some of them living under a motorway overpass that had a jacuzzi. The only problem withthe jacuzzi was that they had wired it into one of the motorway lights and had unwired the light in the process. Repair people found the broken light with a wire going under the overpass and wired into the jacuzzi.

[rpbc]

Did he buy a one-way plane ticket? Maybe it was his plan all along.

[BadWingman]

.

I'd have to agree England or America would be a worse place to be broke, especially if your a male. If your a female, pretty good place to be broke.

 

I don't follow. Why would England or the US be a worse place with no money. IMO anywhere would be hell.

 

I would think England has a social security system where the needy can get a bed and bowl of soup? And probably some payments as well. To the best of my knowledge Thailand is not giving any foreigners payments.

[Big Bad Wolf]

 

 

I don't follow. Why would England or the US be a worse place with no money. IMO anywhere would be hell.

 

I would think England has a social security system where the needy can get a bed and bowl of soup? And probably some payments as well. To the best of my knowledge Thailand is not giving any foreigners payments.

My thought process was the good weather in Thailand and cheap food. Granted San Diego weather wise would be an exception. But true anywhere would suck yes.

[austland]

i am an australian living in pattaya. this story hits home to me. i have been here since feb 11. have come thailand many times. aswel travelled around the world to many places. whilst here things have turned bad for me, as far as finances are concerned. i have had some bad financial dealings, with my ex partners family. basically leaving me broke. i turn 43 on sunday. and currently survive here with the help of my 23 year old thai gf. who works for a resteraunt 6 days a week, 9 hours a day, never get a single work break. and receives 11000 thb per month. our room is 5000thb per month without power and water. i have tried hard for a long time to aquire work in thailand. but with thai work permit regulations and farang wage. companies are not intrested to employ me uless i am an engineer. i have descussed returning to australia, to work and earn money. but dont really have a home in aus to stay. i look at this poor man in phuket, and worry will this happen to me. i am not suicidal, but worry what my future holds. i am in los with no friends or familly. only my gf. i love thailand for many reasons, and battle on to make something better here. i hope things will change. i am a decent guy dont commit crime for money even though sometimes go without food. try to be a respectable member of the community. staying well groomed and showing respect to people from all forms of life. its geeting harder though, as every time my clothes come back from the laundry, they are permenantly damaged. and i dont have funds to replace them. and having to find money for visa runs and ext. is like hoping for a small lottery win. pretty funny considering when i lived in aus, i will come here on holliday, and always give money to people. as i have stated, i dont have much of a life in australia. i was with my ex for 23 years. all i really hope is to aquire work here so i can support me and my girl. and she can buy things, others already have. like new phone, camera and watch. breaks my heart we have to live like this. please dont judge me.

[Big Bad Wolf]

i am an australian living in pattaya. this story hits home to me. i have been here since feb 11. have come thailand many times. aswel travelled around the world to many places. whilst here things have turned bad for me, as far as finances are concerned. i have had some bad financial dealings, with my ex partners family. basically leaving me broke. i turn 43 on sunday. and currently survive here with the help of my 23 year old thai gf. who works for a resteraunt 6 days a week, 9 hours a day, never get a single work break. and receives 11000 thb per month. our room is 5000thb per month without power and water. i have tried hard for a long time to aquire work in thailand. but with thai work permit regulations and farang wage. companies are not intrested to employ me uless i am an engineer. i have descussed returning to australia, to work and earn money. but dont really have a home in aus to stay. i look at this poor man in phuket, and worry will this happen to me. i am not suicidal, but worry what my future holds. i am in los with no friends or familly. only my gf. i love thailand for many reasons, and battle on to make something better here. i hope things will change. i am a decent guy dont commit crime for money even though sometimes go without food. try to be a respectable member of the community. staying well groomed and showing respect to people from all forms of life. its geeting harder though, as every time my clothes come back from the laundry, they are permenantly damaged. and i dont have funds to replace them. and having to find money for visa runs and ext. is like hoping for a small lottery win. pretty funny considering when i lived in aus, i will come here on holliday, and always give money to people. as i have stated, i dont have much of a life in australia. i was with my ex for 23 years. all i really hope is to aquire work here so i can support me and my girl. and she can buy things, others already have. like new phone, camera and watch. breaks my heart we have to live like this. please dont judge me.

 

Keep trying and remember never give up. I'll have you in my thoughts hopefully something will come up for you work wise soon.

[Sexyfarangman]

Why did he come to Thailand with shortage of money . He should have budget his money for 30 days but spend it all within two weeks... RIP Karwell., Thailand is the worse place if you have no money..

 

Probably wanted to have once last fling before making a final exit.

[Sexyfarangman]

i am an australian living in pattaya. this story hits home to me. i have been here since feb 11. have come thailand many times. aswel travelled around the world to many places. whilst here things have turned bad for me, as far as finances are concerned. i have had some bad financial dealings, with my ex partners family. basically leaving me broke. i turn 43 on sunday. and currently survive here with the help of my 23 year old thai gf. who works for a resteraunt 6 days a week, 9 hours a day, never get a single work break. and receives 11000 thb per month. our room is 5000thb per month without power and water. i have tried hard for a long time to aquire work in thailand. but with thai work permit regulations and farang wage. companies are not intrested to employ me uless i am an engineer. i have descussed returning to australia, to work and earn money. but dont really have a home in aus to stay. i look at this poor man in phuket, and worry will this happen to me. i am not suicidal, but worry what my future holds.

 

Well, you should still be able to return to Oz and find some type of work, even if you have no family there. I can't see allowing a poor waitress earning 11000 baht p.m. supporting me. At 43, you still have time. Moreover, Oz has avoided the major financial problems afflicting Europe and the US. Hence, there should be sufficient opportunity for employment. You owe this much to your struggling Thai GF.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Sexyfarangman