British businessman, 70, falls to his death from balcony 'while painting wall'
A former British businessman fell to his death from a condo in Thailand while he is said to have been painting the balcony wall.
David Mark Spooner, 70, from Sheffield, was reportedly applying a fresh coat of paint on the unit when he slipped from the eighth-floor balcony of Neo Seaview Condo in resort town Pattaya.
Neighbours said they heard a loud thud followed by screams as the Brit's body was discovered near the building's parking area, at around 7 pm on June 25.
Police arrived at the scene, where they found David lying on the pavement with multiple fractures. The area was cordoned off as officers collected evidence.
Police Lieutenant Akaradech Piamphumpanya of the Na Jomtien district station said a search of David's room found no suspicious items or signs of a struggle.
He said: 'The condominium management told us that the deceased had been living here since 2016.
‘He had a Thai ex-wife, and they have an 11-year-old child together, suggesting that he had likely been living in Thailand for more than 20 years.
‘His ex-wife and child live in another province, so he resided here alone.
‘A neighbour living in the opposite building testified that they saw him painting the back wall of his room before the incident.
‘Shortly afterwards, the neighbour heard someone scream. When they looked, they discovered that he had already fallen.
‘We suspect that he likely slipped and fell.
‘We found no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
‘Our inspection revealed no signs of forced entry or assault, no involvement of third parties, and no evidence that anyone else had entered or left the room apart from him.'
Neighbours said David was often seen redecorating or renovating his condo unit. They believe he slipped from the balcony during one of his DIY projects.
He was the former director of Kiivii Ltd., a company specialising in the retail sale of flowers, plants, seeds, fertilisers, pet animals and pet food through specialised stores.
The company was dissolved in May last year through compulsory strike-off.
David's death is the latest in a string of foreigners who have died mysteriously in Pattaya. An investigation by British publisher The Sun found that suicide in the city is five times the national average.
