« The other side of Phuket not in guidebooks: Phuket town, neighborhoods, crime, and garbage issue
I won the lottery…in my dreams: Thai Government Lottery »

American deaths in Thailand over the last five years (2002 - 2007): Unatural American death fatalities

An empty coffin Surfing the web, I happened upon yet another unsolved homicide-suicide-accidental death ??? case involving an American man in Pattaya a few months ago. As such deaths, particularly in Pattaya, are so common, usually I wouldn’t have given it any extra thought.

However, in the following reports, the deceased man’s American passport was fully exposed–right next to pictures of his corpse– making me think of my own mortality and how easily my own passport could potentially be displayed in some article.
To see these pictures/articles, check out the Pattaya City News version and the same case yet different reporting at The Pattaya Daily News version, both complete with pictures of the deceased’s passport.

Both accounts give completely different, conflicting stories (which seems nothing out of the ordinary for local media). The resulting google search, though not shedding any more light on that particular case, led me to unexpectedly find the following US government lists of American’s that have died unnaturally abroad since October 2002.

Below I’ve copied and reformatted only the American unnatural deaths in Thailand from October 2002 up till May 2007, though if you wish to see all such American unnatural deaths all over the world in this five year window, please see Deaths Abroad Oct2002-Jun2004 and Deaths Abroad Jul2004-Jun2007

Roughly in the time that the Siamerican has been living in Thailand (moved here in February 2002), fellow Americans have been unnecessarily dropping like flies–much more than I ever would have expected–and the following list is for Thailand alone, which according to this statistical summary of the last three years, Thailand ranks as the fourth leading country abroad for Americans to unnaturally die in (behind Mexico, Iraq, and Costa Rica).

Unnatural deaths of Americans in Thailand

Date of Death

Place of Death

Cause of Death
October 6, 2002 BAN MOR, MUANG, PETCHABURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
October 11, 2002 PETCHKASEM ROAD, BAN NAMJAN KRABI NOI, MUANG, KRABI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
November 2, 2002 BANG PHLI, SUMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND Other Accident
November 8, 2002 DUSIT, BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
November 23, 2002 BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
November 23, 2002 TALING NGAM, KOH SAMUI, SURAT THANI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
December 31, 2002 MUANG, KRABI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
December 31, 2002 MUANG, KRABI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
January 10, 2003 MUENG, UDORNTHANI, THAILAND Other Accident
January 15, 2003 PHRA NAKHON, BANGKOK, THAILAND Drug-Related
March 8, 2003 BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
March 10, 2003 BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Other Accident
March 11, 2003 BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
March 19, 2003 NONG PRUE, BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Homicide
March 21, 2003 ROAD IN SOI PHOTISAN, MOO 5, NA KLUA, BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
March 26, 2003 ON CHIANG MAI - LAMPHUN ROAD, A. SARAPEE, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
April 7, 2003 HASADISEWEE ROAD, A. MUANG, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
May 8, 2003 CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
June 6, 2003 SAI ROP KO ROAD, BOR PHUT, KO SAMUI, SURAT THANI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
July 16, 2003 CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
July 20, 2003 BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
September 24, 2003 BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
November 17, 2003 CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
December 11, 2003 BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
December 18, 2003 PHITSANULOK, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
December 25, 2003 BANG RAK, BANGKOK, THAILAND Drug-Related
December 28, 2003 PATUMWAN, BANGKOK, THAILAND Homicide
December 31, 2003 ANG THONG, KOH SAMUI, SURAT THANI, THAILAND Drowning
January 11, 2004 IN FRONT OF YAKULT CO., LTD., VIBHAVADI RANGSIT ROAD, CHATUCHAK, BANGKOK, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
January 12, 2004 A. MAE RIM, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Other Accident
January 14, 2004 SOI SUKHUMVIT 105, BANG NA, BANGKOK, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
March 5, 2004 MUENG, RANONG, THAILAND Drowning
March 16, 2004 NAI MUANG, MUANG, SURIN, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
April 4, 2004 BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
April 4, 2004 BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
April 11, 2004 BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
April 24, 2004 404/67 MOO 9, NONG PRUE, BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Other Accident
May 14, 2004 CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Homicide
May 27, 2004 NA KLUA, BANGLAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
June 1, 2004 MUANG, PHUKET, THAILAND Drowning
June 12, 2004 CHANG PHUAK, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Drug-Related
June 19, 2004 KHLONG PHLU WATERFALL, MOO 4, KOH CHANG, KOH CHANG, TRAT, THAILAND Drowning
3-Jul-04 57 PATONG SUBDISTRICT, KATU, PHUKET, THAILAND Drowning
13-Jul-04 PATONG, KATU, PHUKET, THAILAND Suicide
19-Jul-04 PATTAYA, THAILAND Suicide
2-Aug-04 RATCHMANKA ROAD, A. MAUNG, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Drug-related
11-Aug-04 NANG YUAN RESORT ISLAND, KOH PANGAN DISTRICT, SURATHANI PROVINCE, THAILAND Drowning
18-Sep-04 MEECHAI, MUANG, NONG KHAI, THAILAND Homicide
23-Sep-04 SAI ROB KOH ROAD, MAE NAM, KOH SAMUI, SURATHANI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
5-Oct-04 PHRA BARAMEE ROAD, PATONG, KATU, PHUKET, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
9-Oct-04 NONG PRUE, BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
6-Nov-04 RONG MUANG, PATHUMWAN, BANGKOK Homicide
23-Nov-04 VILLAGE NO. 5, CHALONG SUBDISTRICT, MUGNG PHUKET DISTRICT, PHUKET PROVINCE Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
29-Nov-04 SAI ORMKHAO ROAD, NONG PRUE, BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
13-Dec-04 BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
23-Dec-04 BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KHAO LAK, KHUK KHAK SUBDISTRICT, TAKUAPA DISTRICT, PANGNGA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KOH PHI PHI, AO NANG SUB-DISTRICT, MUANG DISTRICT, KRABI PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 KOH PHI PHI, AO NANG SUB-DISTRICT, MUANG DISTRICT, KRABI PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 PHI PHI ISLAND, MOO 7, AO NANG SUB-DISTRICT, MUANG DISTRICT, KRABI PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 PHUKET, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 PHUKET, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 PHUKET, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 PHI PHI ISLAND, AO NANG, MUANG, KRABI, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 PANGNA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 BANGTAO BEACH, CHEANGTHALAY, THALANG, PHUKET, THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 THAILAND Disaster
26-Dec-04 THAILAND Disaster
28-Dec-04 HAD YAI DISTRICT, SONGKHLA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
28-Dec-04 HAD YAI DISTRICT, SONGKHLA PROVINCE, THAILAND Disaster
15-Jan-05 NAI MUANG, MUANG, NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND Drug-Related
16-Jan-05 68/3 MOO 2, BAAN SUAN, MUANG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
25-Jan-05 GULF OF THAILAND, BO PHUD SUB-DISTRICT, KOH SAMUI DISTRICT, SURAT THANI PROVINCE, THAILAND Maritime Accident
25-Jan-05 GULF OF THAILAND, BO PHUD SUB-DISTRICT, KOH SAMUI DISTRICT, SURAT THANI PROVINCE, THAILAND Maritime Accident
25-Jan-05 GULF OF THAILAND, BO PHUD SUB-DISTRICT, KOH SAMUI DISTRICT, SURAT THANI PROVINCE, THAILAND Maritime Accident
10-Feb-05 CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Other Accident
3-Mar-05 BANGKOK, THAILAND Drowning
12-Mar-05 681 SAMSEN ROAD, DUSIT, BANGKOK, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Pedestrian
14-Mar-05 BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Drowning
6-Apr-05 PHUKET, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
22-Apr-05 MITTRAPAP ROAD, PAK CHONG, NAKORN RATCHASIMA, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
25-Apr-05 BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
25-May-05 KRASANG DISTRICT, BURIRAM PROVINCE, THAILAND Homicide
11-Jul-05 BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Suicide
24-Jul-05 BUNTHARIK HOSPITAL, 200 MOO 1, PHONNGAM, BUNTHARIK, UBON RATCHATHANI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
8-Aug-05 8/1 LOI KHROH RD., CHANGLKAN, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Drug-related
23-Sep-05 116 MOO 6, PATAN MUEANG, LOPBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
23-Sep-05 116 MOO 8, PATAN MUEANG, LOPBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
3-Oct-05 31-33 THAPAE RD. SOI 3 MUANG, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Drug-Related
4-Oct-05 INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, MOO 5, TUNGSUKHLA, SRIRACHA, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
19-Oct-05 RASADA ROAD, TAP TIENG, MUANG DISTRICT, TRANG PROVINCE, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Other
17-Nov-05 MUANG, NONG KHAI, THAILAND Homicide
27-Dec-05 RAMKHAMHAENG RD., MIN BURI, BANGKOK, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
1-Jan-06 CHIANG RAI, CHIANG RAI, THAILAND Other Accident
2-Jan-06 PAHYA THAI, BANGKOK, THAI Suicide
9-Jan-06 DIN DAENG, BANGKOK, THAILAND Other Accident
17-Jan-06 NONG PRUE, BANGLAMUNG CHON BURI Suicide
18-Jan-06 HAT KHAM, MUANG, NONGKHAI, THAILAND Homicide
23-Apr-06 BANGKOK, THAILAND Homicide
17-May-06 SOI NGAM DU PLEE, THUNG MAHA MEK, SATHON, BANGKOK, THAILAND Suicide
28-May-06 CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
30-May-06 CHONBURI, THAILAND Drug-Related
11-Jun-06 BANG LAMUNG, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
24-Jun-06 PHUKET, THAIlAND Drowning
2-Jul-06 SRIDONCHAI ROAD, THAILAND Homicide
20-Jul-06 700 MOO 8 PHASALI DISTRICT, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
2-Aug-06 BANG KOR, THAILAND Suicide
4-Aug-06 MAK KENG, MUANG, UDON, THAILAND Suicide
2-Sep-06 Bleft CITY TOWER, THAILAND Suicide
9-Sep-06 MAE RIM ROAD, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-other
15-Sep-06 HAT YAI, SONGKHLA, THAILAND Terrorist Action
29-Sep-06 CHAING MAI, THAILAND Homicide
2-Nov-06 UDON THANI, THAILAND Other Accident- fall
5-Nov-06 THIALAND Suicide
16-Nov-06 PATTTAYA, THAILAND Other Accident - fall
25-Nov-06 HAYACHI HILL- PATAK ROAD, PHUKET, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
9-Jan-07 SARABURI, THAILAND Suicide
8-Feb-07 MOO 1, PAK THO, RATCHABURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Train
30-Mar-07 MAESAI-CHIANG SAEN RD., CHIANG RAI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Auto
28-Apr-07 69 MOO 2, MUANG CHONBURI, CHONBURI, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Motorcycle
1-May-07 BANG NA-TRAD ROAD, RACHA THEWA, BANG PLEE, SAMUT KRAKAN, THAILAND Veh. Accident-Pedestrian

As you can see, the list is quite extensive, providing a clear reality check to reinforce the eternal goals to never be on such a list! For other Americans and foreigners in general, the US department of state has an in depth page here about Travel Warnings with extensive facts and advice of all kinds that could be helpful in avoiding such lists, for all people in general, when visiting Thailand.

Popularity: 19% [?]




You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Did you find this post interesting? You may also enjoy these posts:

2 Responses to “American deaths in Thailand over the last five years (2002 - 2007): Unatural American death fatalities”

  1. American sympathy Says:
    October 6th, 2007 at 2:05 am

    My god! You’re American and on the motorbike too as I can see from your other blogs… Be very careful not to make the list! We don’t need any more unnecessary loss of valuable life.

  2. American teacher falls from condo rooftop - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum Says:
    June 6th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    […]Travelling in Northern Thailand Forum[…]

Leave a Reply