An investigation has begun into the death of a 39-year-old Thai man who fell from the top of a quarantine hotel near Pattaya on Wednesday afternoon, a day after returning home from the Middle East.
Phol Phrom-ngam, 39, of Buri Ram’s Phutthaisong district, had worked as a labourer in Israel and was taken to a state quarantine facility at Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel, Jomtien Beach, after flying back to Thailand on Tuesday.
Deputy army chief Gen Natthapon Nakpanich, head of the government’s committee on COVID-19 control, said yesterday that an investigation had been launched into the death.
Phol had appeared agitated, reportedly walking in and out of his room several times before falling to his death, Gen Nakpanich said.
Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed condolences to his family.
The premier has also instructed that proper disease control measures be followed in helping them take his body to his home for funeral rites.
Phol arrived in Thailand on Flight 6H691 from Tel Aviv on Tuesday and was among 168 returnees taken to the state quarantine hotel in Jomtien, Lt Gen Tantravanich said.
He fell from the hotel about 4 pm on Wednesday and was pronounced dead at the scene. It is not known how he managed to get to the top of the hotel.
His body was taken to Bang Lamung Hospital for a post-mortem.
Phol’s mother Sayon Phrom-ngam, 72, said she was shocked to learn of her son’s death so close to coming home and said he had shown no sign of such distress before.
His death means his mother will be entitled to his 40,000 baht Social Security Fund membership payout.
