An influencer has sadly died after accepting a $875 whisky-drinking competition.
Thanakarn Kanthee, best known online to his social media followers as ‘Bank Leicester,’ arrived at 11PM for a birthday party on December 25 in the Tha Mai district of Chanthaburi, Thailand, Bangkok Post reported.
The man, who worked selling garlands, was asked to drink bottles of whisky in exchange for cash. He was reportedly offered 10,000 baht (almost $300) for every 350ml bottle he gulped, per The Independent.
According to The Nation Thailand, he was reportedly paid 30,000 baht (over $800) for the challenge after apparently drinking three bottles.
Soon after completing the challenge, Kanthee vomited and lost consciousness. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically pronounced dead at 3:40AM on December 26.
The cause of death has been recorded as acute heart failure, though further investigation is needed to determine the role of alcohol consumption and any underlying health conditions, Thai Enquirer wrote on Facebook.
Thai police have arrested two influencers from Chanthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces in connection with the 21-year-old's death.
One of them, Ekachart "Em" Meephrom, admitted to daring Kanthee to participate in the drinking challenge but denied any personal involvement or responsibility.
He was charged with negligence resulting in death and was denied bail after the local court he was presented in ruled that Meephrom had shown reckless behavior. The other suspect that was arrested was identified as Theerawat Srirot from Pathum.
If it is confirmed that the victim was paid to participate in the deadly drinking challenge, the influencers could face up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($580) under Section 291 of the Penal Code, which addresses causing death through negligence.
Online users have shared Kanthee’s old posts in which the influencer said he performed such risky challenges to support his family, especially his 80-year-old grandmother, who had raised him.
“I am willing to be bullied and insulted to just get scraps of money from the rich people in order to provide for my family,” one of his posts read, per The Independent.
His grandmother spoke out about his loss, saying: “Currently, I live in this house with my son and Thanakarn, just the three of us. Thanakarn took care of everything for me. Now that he’s gone, I have no idea how I will continue to manage."
Her grandson had gone away promising to return with 60,000 baht ($1,737) they needed to settle overdue payments, the grandmother added.
Our thoughts are with Kanthee’s loved ones at this time.
