Brit found dead at 'The Beach' after pursuing dream

[jonny_]

What a shame, dying att an age of only 21 years. May he rest in peace!

[Khundon1975]

What a sad tale, 21 years old and felt he had to take his life. Poor lad. However, it seems he had at least 3 years, doing what made him happy.

It's ironic really, the Beach he fell in love with in the film, was a lot different prior to filming starting.

My wife's aunty has a film company that worked on the film and I remember talking to her about it in 2002.

There was a load of environmental controversy surrounding the whole issue of filming there, as production staff had bulldozed some of the trees and bushes and leveled parts of the beach. In fact a court case which ran for about 5 years, found several people guilty of environmental damage. Including 20th Century Fox.

Also, some of the mountains in the background on the film, were put in with CG, post production.

I wonder, when people who have seen the film, then visit the beach, ever notice. To stoned I expect.

The wife and I went there, post the Tsunami and the waves had repaired most, but not all, of the damage the film crew had done to the beach.

To me, the place was noisy and stunk of diesel and petrol fumes from all those boats, and was one of the least beautiful places I have been to in Thailand. But it brings in the punters I suppose.

[margaretcarnes]

The more I read about this the more confused I've become. At age 21 he decided his life is not worth living if he went home?

On top of that we have relatives saying things like, "This little legend has touched the heart and soul from every corner. Such an ambassador for our family ..Bless him, " wrote another, a relative." Such an ambassador for our family??!!

I think best if I just stop trying to figure it out, or read anymore.

A sensible decision Pete IMO. Sad as it is the lad had reportedly been in Thailand since he was 18. OK - for many young people in the UK there isn't much to look forward to. It's easy to be drawn towards a completely different lifestyle. But few of them can afford even the flight at age 18.
What also has to be borne in mind though is the youngsters who can't go abroad - who let off steam by tombstoning off cliffs in places like Newquay. And you have to ask why they have such apparent lack of concern for their own lives. Maybe it is the very same thing - not being able to see a future. The end result is the same, but if a lad dies in Thailand it is more newsworthy.

[STEVE G]

Just trying to work out some of the reasoning that drove this lad to suicide is hardly speculation it's the normal thought processes that you go through when thinking what a waste of a young life.

Where exactly did you read that he committed suicide?

http://www.phuketgazette.net/articles/a ... tail/33738

[PeteC]

It's also on the first page of the thread:

It looks like suicide:
http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2014/08/ ... r-old.html