Wichit Police were notified at 7:55am today that a man had die when a gate at the Catholic cemetery behind Central Festival East (HomeWorks) had fallen onto him.
Capt Khawnsirinart Thairat attended the scene with Kusoldharm rescue workers and medical staff from Phuket International Hospital to find the body of the victim crushed under the three metre by five metre metal gate.
Medical staff said that the man had sustained severe head and back injuries and that he had been dead for about 30 minutes.
Police identified the deceased as 65-year-old Mr Virat Saelim, a noodle vendor who lived on Chao Fa East Rd.
Capt Khawnsirinart said, “According to Mr Virat’s wife, Ms Samai, every Saturday Mr Virat would bring flowers to his mother’s grave. He always closed the gate himself after leaving the cemetery.
“It appears that as Mr Virat was closing the gate the wheel came off its runner causing it to fall onto him. He died instantly.
“His family do not want any investigation into the death. However, his body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for doctors to confirm the exact time and cause of death,” she said.