Koh Samui : “They forced me to eat a banana,” says American tourist found after balcony jump

A young American tourist, his torso lacerated and suffering from severe hallucinations, burst into the Bo Phut police station on Ko Samui.

In the afternoon of 25 September, a man aged around 27 to 30, of American nationality, presented himself at the police station in Bo Phut, in Ko Samui (Surat Thani province). Dressed only in shorts, he had around ten lacerations on his arms, legs and neck.

Visibly suffering from strong hallucinations, the tourist was speaking incoherently. He claimed that a person had threatened him in his room and forced him to eat a banana while repeating that he was a monkey.

Alerted by the gravity of his condition, Lieutenant Colonel Phumret Inkhong, deputy to the head of Bo Phut police, immediately called for emergency services so that he could be taken to hospital.

Shortly afterwards, investigators were informed of a fire in the accommodation where the traveller was staying. The fire, which started in his room at the “Cheeky Monkey’s”, in moo 3, was quickly brought under control by the firefighters but all the belongings inside were completely destroyed.

According to initial information, the tourist had not slept for several days and had already caused disturbances before the fire started. He had then jumped from the balcony to escape. Surveillance cameras revealed no other person present in the room.

The authorities do not rule out either a short circuit or an act committed by the tourist himself under the effect of hallucination.

The investigation continues to establish the exact circumstances of the events.