Thai actress Tangmo found dead in a river two days after she fell from a speedboat
The lifeless body of Thai actress Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong was found floating in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on Feb. 26, two days after she was reported missing after falling from a speedboat.
The 37-year-old actress was with five other people—her manager, three friends, and the speedboat owner—on a boat traveling to the Rama VII bridge in Nonthaburi.
Reports said that around 10 pm, Tangmo went to the back of the boat to relieve herself as the boat's toilet was broken. She then fell into the river without a life jacket on.
Her manager witnessed the fall and called for help. Rescuers and divers reportedly arrived at around midnight and found the search difficult because of strong currents and little light.
38 hours later, Tangmo's lifeless body was found, with her brother Dayos Detjob confirming that it was his younger sister.
Autopsy reports from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital said the actress died from drowning and had sand in her lungs.
However, Tangmo's mother Panida Sirayuttayothin said there might have been foul play involved.
"Someone might not have been pleased Tangmo was there," she said.
They also reported that she had a "deep cut" on her left leg, but they have yet to confirm if it came from a boat propeller. There were also unidentified small scratches on her leg.
One of her companions, Nita "Job" Kiratisoothisathorn, had a scratch on his arm and a bruise on his shoulder, but police said they were five to seven days old.
The speedboat's owner and driver have been charged with death by negligence and operating an unauthorized vehicle.
According to reports, the actress' companions will also be called by the police for further questioning under lie detectors to clear up doubts about the accident.
Tangmo was one of the most popular actresses in Thailand, starring in movies and TV series including The Fallen Leaf and Bangkok Love Stories: Innocence.