‘Financial stress’ blamed for Phuket gun range suicide

Mr Podra shot himself in the head with high-powered handgun at the Patong Hill Shooting Range yesterday afternoon after firing seven rounds at a target.

He left behind two handwritten letters: one to his sister written in Estonian, and another in English instructing police to contact his wife, Rachaneewan Punkoon, at a hotel in Patong.

“We contacted Ms Ratchaneewan and she told us that Mr Podra had been unemployed for months and that he was under tremendous stress due to his finances,” said Lt Sawanya Eidsong of the Thung Thong Police.

“She said that Mr Podra told her often that he wanted to kill himself. He wanted to stay in Thailand and live in Phuket, but he could not find a job that he liked,” Lt Sawanya added.

“She also said that all his friends that were helping him to find work never contacted him back.”

The Estonian embassy in Bangkok has been notified, Lt Sawanya said.

“And Ms Rachaneewan is contacting his family,” he added.

Regarding reports that Mr Podra lived in the US , Lt Sanya said, “We have no information about whether or not Mr Podra was a resident or had lived in America.

“But we have confirmed that Mr Podra did not have any children with Ms Ratchaneewan.”

Mr Podra’s self-shooting death at a Phuket gun range follows that of 21-year-old Liam Colven of Scotland shooting himself dead a year ago at a shooting range in Thalang.

Phuket News