Ranong Festival Tragedy: Tourist Falls to Death
RANONG, Thailand — March 12, 2025 — An Italian tourist died in what appears to be an accidental fall near the 2025 Annual Ranong Hot Spring Tourism Festival. His body was discovered around 6:00 p. m. local time on Wednesday, March 12th, near the Klong Rahat bridge in Khao Niwet Subdistrict, Mueang Ranong District.
A local resident found the body of 65-year-old Mr. Marco lying face down on the canal embankment. The bridge, only two meters above the ground and partially obscured by tall grass, is approximately 100 meters from the festival and near the National Telecommunications Company office. The resident immediately contacted traffic police, who then notified Ranong City Police.
Police Major General Thanawat Wattanakul, Commander of Ranong Provincial Police, oversaw the investigation. Authorities quickly identified the deceased as Mr. Marco, an Italian national.
While the area is near the festival, it’s also a quiet spot used by some locals. Residents reported hearing intense dog barking after midnight, potentially indicating the time of the incident. A motorcycle taxi driver recalled seeing a foreign man walking unsteadily near the festival entrance the previous night, though he couldn’t positively identify him as Mr. Marco.
A preliminary autopsy by the forensic team from Ranong Hospital and the provincial forensic unit, conducted by 7:00 p. m., indicated Mr. Marco died approximately 8–10 hours before discovery. The autopsy revealed no signs of foul play.
Investigators believe Mr. Marco’s death was accidental. They hypothesize he may have been relieving himself near the bridge, a spot reportedly used for this purpose by some locals. He may have stumbled over a water pipe, lost his footing, and fallen, sustaining a fatal head injury. This theory aligns with the evidence and witness accounts.
Authorities are contacting the Italian Embassy to inform Mr. Marco’s family. This tragic incident underscores the importance of caution in unfamiliar environments, even during festive occasions. The Ranong community and festival organizers express their sadness at this unfortunate event.
