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Power cable kills city man
A tourist has died in a freak accident when he was electrocuted as he walked back to his hotel in Thailand.
Scott Mitchinson, of Barnes, Sunderland, is thought to have died when he stepped on a exposed power cable concealed by flood waters.
The 30-year-old was staying in Bangkok and was walking from a bar to his hotel when the tragedy happened, according to reports from the city.
His devastated dad, John, 72, of Sunderland, said: "He was a wonderful son, a brilliant son. I will miss him so much."
Mr Mitchinson and a friend, Khun Wanidar, 32, who works in a bar in Walking Street, South Pattaya, were walking in heavy rainstorms in the early hours of Thursday, June 19.
According to newspaper reports in the Thai capital, they had been heading to the corner of Soi 17 off the Pratamnuk Road near Pattaya School Number 8 when Mr Mitchinson suddenly collapsed and began to convulse.
It is believed he had come into contact with exposed power cables and those who were nearby could do nothing to help for fear of electrocuting themselves.
A plan was formulated to safely take Mr Mitchinson from the scene of the accident, but he had already died according to doctors who attempted CPR at an emergency room, which was unsuccessful.
His father, John, said: "He had gone to Thailand with three or four of his male friends two weeks ago."He left a week gone last Monday. I hadn't heard from him but thought everything was OK, but then I got a call from the Embassy.
"It came as a massive shock - he has been to Thailand before, two years ago, and loves it there."He has an old school friend who lives over there, I think that was who he was visiting.
"Scott worked on the oil rigs in Aberdeen. He was my only son. He loved to travel and he was often away from home with work."I'm waiting to hear more from the Embassy, they have to investigate his death.Scott enjoyed life and lived it to the full.
"I don't think he had a girlfriend, he never mentioned it if he did, but some reports have mentioned that."
Earlier in the day incessant rain triggered flooding in low-lying Pattaya, damaged houses and shops.
According to one local paper, Mr Mitchinson was wading through flood waters to return to his hotel room.
Sukhumvit Road in Southern Pattaya was under one metre of water Thursday morning causing traffic disruption for small vehicles.
Houses and shops in the town were hit by flooding as deep as two metres and officials had been working to pump the flood waters and divert them into the sea.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British male died on June 19 in Bangkok, Thailand.
"We are in contact with his next of kin and consular assistance is being provided."
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
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