Body Found Floating at Jomtien Beach — Police Consider Gambling Debts; Relatives Demand Thorough Investigation

On the morning of July 6, 2026, police at Pattaya City Station received a report of a dead Thai man found at Jomtien Beach near Soi Jomtien 10. A local resident out for a morning run discovered the body and notified emergency responders, who went to the scene. The deceased is described as a middle-aged man wearing a t‑shirt and shorts, with no identification on him. Authorities initially sent the body to Bang Lamung Hospital for an autopsy to check for injuries or other suspicious signs.

A friend of the deceased, one of the people who found the body, said the victim may have had problems with gambling debts, citing recent conversations in which he asked to borrow money and tried to reconcile with friends. However, the gambling-debt information is still being corroborated and remains an unproven lead. Police plan to question close contacts, examine the victim’s mobile phone, and review nearby CCTV footage to determine the true cause of death.

A police major general and local public health officials noted that while finding bodies on beaches is not new in a tourist city like Pattaya, gambling addiction and debt among some residents can affect community safety and the tourism image. A death without a clearly identified cause can cause concern among visitors, especially those staying near Jomtien Beach.

Local residents said such incidents reflect broader social problems, including easy access to online gambling and cycles of debt that affect both locals and foreign workers living in the area. Many are calling on government and local authorities to step up preventive measures, such as offering gambling-counseling services, supporting access to social-care resources, and actively promoting hotlines for people with gambling problems.

Regarding tourism impact, the subdistrict headman and hotel and restaurant operators in Jomtien warned that repeated reports like this could harm the beach’s peaceful, friendly image, since some tourists might avoid areas seen as unsafe. In the short term, police say they will increase morning and night patrols and coordinate surveillance of the beach and routes connecting to nearby communities.

The case is under detailed investigation. Police are awaiting the forensic autopsy report to confirm the cause of death and forensic identification results such as fingerprints or documents. Authorities have contacted relatives and released information so anyone who suspects a missing family member or acquaintance can inquire. They emphasized the importance of finding ways to prevent and assist at‑risk groups affected by gambling so similar incidents do not recur in this popular tourist beach area.