Patong Hospital informed Patong Police of the man’s death at 11:05pm on Saturday (Dec 7).
Officers arrived at the hospital and noted no visible injuries on the man’s body.
According to preliminary reports, the man had been transported to the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties during a massage session at a shop in Patong.
Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Police have asked doctors to conduct a post mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Patong Police Chief Pol Col Chalermchai Hirasawat told reporters that the man reportedly began snoring loudly and appeared to fall asleep after a 45-minute oil massage.
Shortly afterward, he showed signs of distress. Staff at the massage shop attempted first aid and contacted emergency services, but resuscitation efforts, including CPR, were unsuccessful.
The man’s wife, who was present during the massage, informed police that he had been drinking beer prior to the session and had a sedentary lifestyle. She did not suspect foul play, attributing the incident to her husband’s health, Pol Col Chalermchai said.
The massage shop, where the man was a regular customer, expressed shock at the incident. Staff told reporters yesterday that the employee who performed the massage was not available for comment as he did not come to work.
Staff also maintained that the man appeared fine during the massage session, and maintained that he did notdie at the shop.
Authorities have confirmed that the man’s family does not wish to have an autopsy conducted in Thailand and plans to return his body to Singapore for religious rites.
The death of the Singaporean man gained widespread attention among the Thai media following the death of popular luk thung singer Chayada Prao-hom, just 20 years old, who died after receiving three massage sessions, two of which involved neck massage, from a Thai shop in the northeastern province of Udon Thani.
The hospital said the cause of death was associated with a blood infection and brain swelling, reported the Bangkok Post.