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Markku Juhani Smatt, 58, second bathroom fall fatality in eight days

Second Tourist Dies in Patong Bathroom Fall

Friday, October 29, 2010
A TOURIST from Finland has become the second visitor in the space of eight days to fall and hit his head and die in a Patong bathroom.

The man, named today as Markku Juhani Smatt, 58, toppled while leaving the shower alcove naked and wet and struck his head at a budget resort in Patong.

Paramedics and police were called to the Austrian Garden Bungalow Resort off Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Road about 3.20pm yesterday.

Mr Smatt was a large man, and police believe this may have contributed to his fall. His body was taken to Patong Hospital.

On October 20, Australian tourist Joseph Edward Thoms, 66, fell and struck his head and died at another Patong guesthouse.

Comments

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Yes it would be nice if people didn't use glazed tiles in the bathrooms. People wonder why so many people fall down on wet tiles

Posted by Brian on October 29, 2010 10:35

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That is one thing that always makes me nervous when taking a shower in Thailand. Those tiles are too slippery.

Posted by Anonymous on October 29, 2010 10:57

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Definitely, one must be extra careful on slippery tiles, bathrooms or elsewhere! Speaking of experience with now a hip prosthesis since10 years! I wear non-slip slippers always!

My sincere condolences at the loss of lives.

Posted by Adrienne on October 29, 2010 11:16

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Not just a question of slippery tiles, but also because budget places tend to have no shower stall so that the water goes all over the entire bathroom floor with shampoo and bath soap residue at the edges. You can't just step out of the shower area onto a towel to have safely dry feet with that kind of setup.

Posted by Anonymous on October 29, 2010 12:13

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Bathtub here are very slippery and a large man like the Finish man do take showers in Finland too. There are antislip mattresses that cost nothing and could be used on these floors. We had them where we lived in Phuket before. I even seen them on a diving boats. So being a budget hotel doesn't mean that you have to risk your life for staying there. RIP..

Posted by Ex expat on October 29, 2010 13:47

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There can be a purpose in a seemingly senseless death like this. Buy someone you love an anti-slip mat, or get one for your customers.

Posted by Philip on October 29, 2010 15:58

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Pattaya is famous for the balcony jump, maybe Phuket will become famous for the wet tile.

Posted by sherlok on October 30, 2010 00:38


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