Drunk Brit Fleeing From Thai Men Drowns In Ocean

December 3, 201213 yr

Three British foreigners were chased by a gang of Thai men on Walking Street after getting into a bar fight. The Brits ran through the Tangkay seafood restaurant and jumped into the ocean, where one of the men drowned. The 29-year-old victim was just released from an English prison for assault, and reportedly has a criminal history of violence.

PATTAYA – December 2, 2012 [PDN]; a report of three foreigners jumping into Pattaya Bay after a fight on Walking Street was received by Pol. Lt. Col. Songkram Pan-eam, investigation officer, Pattaya police station, Chonburi province.

He went to inspect the scene with a police team and the Patttaya sea rescuer equipped with a rubber boat. The incident occurred opposite the Tangkay seafood restaurant in Walking Street in south Pattaya.

At the scene, police found that people in a speedboat had brought an unconscious man to shore. He was shirtless and wearing only shorts. Rescue officers tried to pump the man’s heart, but could not revive him, and he was declared dead.

The drowning victim was identified as Mr. Patrick Lawrence Molloy, age 28, nationality British. His British companions were identified as Mr. James Louis Wills, age 29; and Mr. Jerry Robson, age 30. The tourists were all staying in Flipper House hotel, Soi 7, Beach Road.

Mr. James had swum to safety to a boatload of tourists about 500 meters from shore. Meanwhile, Mr. Jerry was still floating in the water about 300 meters out to sea, so officers rushed to bring the speedboat to assist him.

Police later questioned a witness to the chase, Mr. Chatchai Jansiri, age 25, a bartender in a Walking Street pub. Mr. Chatchai told police that he saw a group of about 5 to 6 Thai men chasing three drunken foreign men. They had reportedly had been drinking at the Marine 2 Disco and damaged property there, and got into an altercation with the Thais.

The trio of fleeing Britishers ran into the Tangkay seafood restaurant and then jumped into the sea. Each of them swam in a different direction.

The drowning victim Mr. Patrick was apparently swimming toward a Banana boat tethered to a speedboat with a rope. But he may have become too exhausted at that point, so he passed out and drowned.

Initially, the officers could not question the two surviving Britishers, who were still shaken up and dazed. So the police restrained them to investigate further.

Police will also follow up to track down the group of Thai men to be investigated. Once police discover the exact cause of the incident that led to the drowning, charges will be filed against the guilty parties.