The missing couple have been named as Nattapon Sittiyanon, 25 and Chanokporn Eam-Aneksorn, 27. The woman wanted to end the relationship, police have been told, but the man did not.


PHUKET: A couple may have jumped from Phuket's Thepkasattri Bridge in a lovers' spat on the eve of a university graduation ceremony.

Concern was mounting among the families of the couple today after locals found their shoes and a rented Toyota Vios parked on the bridge, which connects the mainland to Phuket.

A search was continuing in the water around the bridge, in case the couple did leap. Police said there were signs of a struggle in the car.

One witness is reported to have seen the man urging the woman to the edge of the bridge about 3am this morning.

Families of the couple, a man aged 25 and a woman aged 27, were both at the Phuket bridge today.

They had come from Trang, the woman's home province, and Songkhla, where the man hailed from, to see the young woman go through a practice graduation ceremony at Phuket's Rajabhat University yesterday.

The full graduation ceremony was due to take place tomorrow in Surathani.

The couple were both already working at Blue Canyon Country Club, a well-known golfing destination on Phuket, not far south of the bridge.

The original Sarasin Bridge nearby, which was recently upgraded as a tourist viewpoint, is traditionally associated with the deaths of two young lovers who jumped when their families disagreed over their relationship.

A new Sarasin Bridge 2, carrying traffic off Phuket to the mainland, was opened earlier this year.