PATTAYA – Three more fatalities have been reported as the solemn observations following Krating Daeng founder Chaleo Yoovidhya’s death enter their third month of the traditional 100-day mourning period. Medical staff attending the non-stop caffeine- and methamphetamine-fueled dance party that began on March 18 and will continue until June 26 reported that several of the mourners had died over the weekend from severe dehydration and malnutrition.
“Partying non-stop for 100 days is very hard on the body,” said paramedic Siripat Chumpol, who was part of the team who worked without success to revive the deceased mourners early Sunday morning. “But Chaleo was so beloved by so many people that hundreds have committed themselves to fulfilling the memorial observations, so we have to expect a few casualties.”
According to Chaleo’s son Sarawat Yoovidhya, the founder of what was to become the global drink brand Red Bull was a “simple man” whose last wish was that his death be celebrated through his work. When Chaleo passed away from natural causes in March at age 89, the company announced a 100-day memorial rave at Pattaya’s Marine Disco 2, with free entry and complimentary all-you-can-drink Red Bull, along with non-stop music from the world’s top DJs and a state-of-the-art light show.
Since then, over 8,200 people, including many of Chaleo’s family, friends, and closest business associates, have been dancing to techno and electronica music in the vast interior space, drinking to Chaleo’s memory, and largely subsisting on little more than energy drinks, mixers, and ice.
Authorities were first alerted to the possible dangers of the memorial service when Krating Daeng VP of operations Suttisak Joonsatitpongse died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at 3:30 on the morning of April 7, followed by the near-fatal heart attack of an unnamed well-wisher from the UK who collapsed on the dance floor on April 22. Yet despite the dangers the mourners and guests have re-affirmed their decision to complete the 100 days of traditional ritual activity for Chaleo.
“He touched so many lives,” said Marc Schneiter, an executive from Red Bull headquarters in Austria. “The least we can do is pay our respects to this great man by saturating our systems with medically lethal levels of stimulants and party in the dark with no thoughts of tomorrow.”
His sentiments were echoed by a young woman calling herself “Nova” who claims to have traveled all the way from Ibiza, Spain to offer her condolences to Chaleo’s family.
“My fucking god my fucking god it’s not death there’s no such fucking thing as death when you just blow past your mortal coil shackles and vector straight into the light you’re one I mean one with the sound and it’s like there’s no you, not you not me not we but everyfuckingthing you can’t separate it that’s death that’s death the separation being separate from anything is to be ripped from god” she observed.
Company executives stressed that mourners are free to come and leave the memorial at any time, and that free transport is being provided by unlicensed, sleep-deprived truck drivers who have been specially hired for the occasion. Since March 19 there have been 12 crashes reported with 27 fatalities, which Sarawat called “touching.”
Reports that the memorial was costing the company over ฿300 million were not confirmed; however, analysts noted that global sales for the corporation Chaleo founded totaled over ฿450 billion last year alone, contributing to Chaleo’s position as Thailand’s third richest person at the time of his death.
A commemorative plaque surrounded by flowers at the entrance to the Marine Disco 2 summed up the impact that Chaleo’s work had on the world: “Never has the creation of one man accelerated so many hearts, spurred so many minds, and activated so many bodies. Chaleo Yoovidhya’s vision was a world in perpetual motion, and in his death we see the only thing that can stop a true Red Bull.
“Let us all realize his vision for these 100 days, or die trying.”
