An American tourist was electrocuted and died in a freak accident after leaning against a metal marquee pole.
Andrey Bessonov, 47, had been on holiday in Pattaya when he took a boat trip to neighbouring island Koh Larn on January 12.
The group returned to a pier and Andrey sheltered under a marquee tent on the resort’s Bali Hai Pier before leaning against a metal pole at around 7.30pm.
But Andrey was suddenly electrocuted when he touched the metal which is believed to have been exposed to loose wiring.
Paramedics arrived and performed CPR in front of dozens of stunned tourists but Andrey, who is originally from Ukraine, was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Witness Tanawat Khenkoon said: ‘’The man had been on a boat and was just standing against a pole when he dropped to the floor and his body was floppy.
‘’Nobody knew what had happened or what to do. The ambulance men said the. electricity leaked and touched the pole.
”It’s sad. He was alive one minute having a holiday and now he is gone. It could have been anybody that touched the pole.”
Paramedics closed off the section of the pier and cut the electricity supply to protect tourists while they investigated what caused the accident.
The Sawang Boriboon rescue group said they were checking the area to make sure it was safe before re-opening it to members of the public.
Pattaya Police said today they were aware of the aware of the death and were still processing the investigation.
