Swedish tourist tries to kill himself on the day his visa ran out

Police and rescue services were called to a main road in Phuket where a 57 year old Swedish man was trying to kill himself by darting in front of traffic.

His visa was running out and he is now on suicide watch at a hospital.

Thalang police, tourist police and staff from a rescue foundation managed to grab him before he got killed in the incident around 2.20 am on Sunday morning.

It happened in the Saladaeng area of Thalang district on the Thepkasatree Road. .

Pol Col Theerawat Liamsuwan said that the man was subdued before being taken to Thalang Hospital before he was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Vachira Phuket director Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthaphon said that the man was suffering from mental illness.

His visa was expiring on Sunday, said the director, so the appropriate authorities in Thailand and the Swedish embassy had been contacted as the man needed in-patient treatment for his mental condition.

He is on a suicide watch at the hospital amid fears he will try to take his life.

Daily News reported that the story received much attention online with Thais wondering how a “mad foreigner” could be allowed into tourist areas while others speculated he may have been ripped off in some way.

Thai Visa / Daily News

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