36-year-old man electrocuted after climbing high-voltage power pole in Thailand
A man in Thailand died after being electrocuted while climbing a high-voltage power pole, in an incident linked to erratic behaviour and ongoing personal struggles.
A 36-year-old man in Thailand died after being electrocuted while climbing a high-voltage power pole in the early hours of 29 April, in an incident that shocked residents in a rural village.
The victim, identified as Thienchai Upathum, was found at the scene after authorities responded to reports of a man behaving erratically and climbing electrical infrastructure.
Police said the case is being treated as an accidental death, with no evidence of foul play.
Incident reported in early morning
According to local police, officers from Si Songkhram Police Station received a report at around 3am about a man climbing a power pole in Ban Kha village.
Residents who witnessed the incident described the man as being in a highly agitated state, raising concerns for his safety.
Some villagers attempted to persuade him to climb down, fearing the danger posed by the high-voltage lines.
Electrical arc triggered fatal injuries
The situation escalated when the man came into contact with the electrical system and was struck by a powerful electrical arc.
The high-voltage discharge caused a fire to ignite around his body, with the intensity of the current resulting in catastrophic injuries.
Authorities said the force of the electrocution caused severe trauma, and the man died at the scene.
Emergency response required power shutdown
Rescue operations involved multiple agencies, including local emergency responders and electricity authorities.
Personnel from the Provincial Electricity Authority worked to cut off the power supply to ensure the area was safe for recovery efforts.
A crane was later deployed to retrieve the victim’s remains from the height of the pole, allowing forensic teams to proceed with examination.
Background of personal struggles
The victim’s father, aged 57, told authorities that his son had been struggling with drug addiction for some time.
He said this had affected his son’s daily life, including his ability to maintain employment and normal routines.
The man had previously been admitted to a psychiatric facility for treatment, but reportedly did not consistently follow medical advice or take prescribed medication.
Police are continuing standard procedures to document the incident, although initial findings point to a tragic accident linked to the man’s condition at the time.
