The man, identified by police as Thiraphat Hongkaew, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was an employee at a mobile phone shop in Wichit. He was last seen leaping from the observation tower on the Phang Nga side of the bridge at about 5:40pm on Wednesday.
Rescue teams from the Kusontham Phuket Foundation, divers and volunteers from the Mai Khao and Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative Organisations (OrBorTor), together with local fishermen, spent two days combing the waters beneath the Sarasin, Thao Srisoonthorn and Thao Thepkrasattri bridges, which connect Phuket to Phang Nga.
Relatives had kept vigil at the bridge throughout the search, lighting incense in prayer to local spirits for the body to be found.
The search was hampered by poor visibility and rising sea levels, forcing rescue workers to suspend operations after nightfall on both Wednesday and Thursday. Efforts resumed each morning with an expanded search radius along nearby beaches.
At 6:20pm yesterday (Aug 15), a visitor walking along Sai Kaew Beach in Mai Khao discovered Mr Thiraphat’s body washed ashore. Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation retrieved the body and transported it to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where doctors will conduct an autopsy before it is released to the family for funeral rites.
Police confirmed the case is not being treated as suspicious.
If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional support and counselling, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at 02-113-6789 (English & Thai) or the Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).