PATTAYA – Quentin Griffiths, a 58-year-old British entrepreneur and an early co-founder of ASOS, has died after a fall from the balcony of his luxury condominium in Pattaya. The incident happened on February 9, 2026. Since then, it has drawn wide attention as police continue their investigation and locals again focus on a troubling run of balcony deaths in the seaside city.
Griffiths helped launch ASOS in 2000 with Nick Robertson. Authorities say he was found dead on the ground below his 17th-floor unit in a high-end residential tower. Police identified him as a British passport holder who had lived in the building long-term, in a property run in a hotel-style setup.
What Happened
Emergency responders arrived after reports of a person falling from a height at about 8:30 PM on February 9. Police found Griffiths beneath the balcony connected to his 17th-floor residence in an 18-story condo complex. Early findings at the scene included:
- The unit door was locked from the inside.
- Investigators saw no signs of forced entry.
- Police found no clear evidence of a struggle.
- CCTV did not show anyone else entering or leaving the unit.
- Griffiths reportedly lived alone.
Investigators from Pattaya City Police Station said the early evidence points to suicide. A senior officer shared that view with major outlets, including Reuters and the BBC. Still, police said they will wait for the full autopsy and post-mortem results before closing the case, and those findings may take weeks or months.
Legal Stress and Personal Problems Mentioned by Police
Police also referenced personal and legal strain as possible factors. Reports say Griffiths had separated from his second wife, a Thai national. At the same time, he was involved in a bitter dispute tied to business interests.
According to police sources, officers found documents in the apartment related to civil lawsuits and possible criminal proceedings. Coverage of the case has linked the court matters to marriage and money conflicts.
While investigators have not confirmed foul play, they continue to review available evidence, including security video, statements, and personal materials. Some outlets have called the death “a real mystery,” but official updates have leaned toward self-harm rather than an accident or homicide.
ASOS shared a short statement after the news broke: “We’re saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders.” The company has not made additional comments.
Pattaya’s Ongoing Problem With Balcony-Related Deaths
Griffiths’ death also puts attention back on a pattern many residents and visitors already recognize. Pattaya has seen frequent reports of people, including foreign nationals, falling from high-rise condos and hotels. Police often rule these cases as suicides, yet the volume keeps raising concern.
Reported figures and recent examples include:
- In the first half of 2025, some reports put foreign suicides in Pattaya at about 48, with many involving balcony falls. Reports also described increases among people from Russia, China, and South Korea after COVID.
- In the first six months of 2024, earlier reporting listed 36 foreign suicides in the city.
- Across Thailand, more than 5,000 suicides were recorded in 2024, although police do not track balcony falls as a separate category.
- In 2025, media reports included a French tourist who fell from a fifth-floor hotel balcony in October. Another case described an Asian man who fell from a 32nd-floor rooftop, where police pointed to cigarette butts as a sign of intent.
Pattaya’s skyline is packed with tall condo towers built for tourists and expats. Because of that, these incidents often happen in or around the same types of buildings. Some critics blame weak safety barriers in older properties.
Others point to isolation, money issues, substance use, and personal crises among long-term residents. Most cases end with suicide rulings, yet repeated deaths, sometimes several in one month, keep fueling calls for stronger prevention and careful case reviews.
Reports suggest true accidents are less common. One widely cited example involved an intoxicated fall caught on video. By contrast, many other cases get linked in media accounts to mental health struggles or legal trouble.
Remembering an Early ASOS Builder
Quentin Griffiths helped shape ASOS during its early push from a small online idea into a major fast-fashion business. Founded in London in 2000, ASOS built its name by selling affordable, trend-led clothing to younger shoppers, with quick growth through online sales.
Although Griffiths left daily work at the company years ago, his role in its early rise is part of ASOS history. His death adds a sad final chapter to a career that started in the center of British retail, but later appeared marked by personal stress far from home.
As police wait for autopsy results and keep reviewing the evidence, the death of Quentin Griffiths also highlights the risks some expats face while living abroad. Authorities have urged anyone dealing with mental health struggles to seek support, while many in the business world remember him for his early work building a global retail brand.
