26-12-2024 (BANGKOK) A tragic incident has claimed the life of a popular Thai social media personality after he participated in a paid drinking challenge that went horribly wrong. Thanakarn Kanthee, widely known as “Bank Leicester”, died in the early hours of December 26 after consuming an entire bottle of alcohol in one go for a social media stunt.
The 27-year-old influencer, who rose to fame for his unique style of rapping while selling garlands, accepted a 30,000 baht (£670) challenge to perform the dangerous feat. Footage posted on social media showed Bank downing the bottle in one continuous gulp before later collapsing unconscious.
Emergency services rushed him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 3:40 AM. The group responsible for orchestrating the challenge has since deleted all related content from their social media platforms.
A prominent Thai medical expert has spoken out about the incident, warning of the severe dangers of rapid alcohol consumption. “Consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short time can cause blood alcohol levels to spike dramatically, leading to potentially fatal complications including choking, respiratory failure, and loss of consciousness,” the doctor explained.
Bank’s story was particularly poignant given his background. Having started selling garlands at age seven to support his grandmother, he had overcome significant hardships, including bullying related to his special needs. Previous incidents had seen him subjected to cruel pranks, including being tricked into eating bones and consuming non-food items.
Thai authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with police officials confirming they are pursuing legal action against those responsible for organising the fatal challenge.
