His Thai girlfriend told police that she had returned from working in another provice past midnight on Saturday and found Schmidt Hans Rudolf sitting unconscious on the balcony of his room on the 12th floor of Ake Condo View.

She said she moved him to lie on the bed to try and help him recover, but found that he had already died. The woman said she has been living with Rudolf for five years. She said she had left to work in another province on Thursday.

She said Rudolf had been complaining about financial problems and he also had a heart disease.

Police said there was no trace of foul play in the room and nothing was stolen but the right wrist of the man had a scratch. His body was sent for an autopsy to a hospital.