KALASIN — The grandmother of Thai travel YouTuber Hlun Solo has tearfully accepted that her grandson died in Georgia after the family received official confirmation from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while rejecting speculation that he took his own life.
Relatives of Hlun, whose real name was Bowornthat Pengsuk, had spent days awaiting confirmation after he disappeared while travelling in Georgia. Late on Wednesday night, the Foreign Ministry informed the family that a body found at a hotel in the country was that of the 26-year-old traveller.
The confirmation plunged the family into grief at their home in Kalasin province, where relatives gathered to comfort one another. Hlun’s grandmother, Som Pengsuk, described him as hardworking, cheerful and deeply devoted to his family.
“He was a good person, diligent and grateful,”
“Whenever I wanted something, he would always try to get it for me. Whenever he travelled abroad, he would bring me gifts and food from the countries he visited.”
Before leaving for Georgia, Hlun asked what she wanted as a gift, Som said. She told him she wanted a karaoke set so they could sing together at the end of the year.
“He promised me he would get it,” she said through tears.
“I thought we would be singing together later this year, but now that will never happen.”
Som also rejected online speculation that her grandson may have died by suicide.
“He never drank alcohol or smoked. I simply cannot believe that he would commit suicide,” she said.
Family members have raised questions about the circumstances of Hlun’s death, including the timeline of events and why relatives were not contacted sooner, despite the hotel having his passport details.
Georgian authorities are conducting an autopsy to establish the cause of death. The family has not yet decided whether Hlun’s body will be returned to Thailand for funeral rites or cremated in Georgia, saying they are awaiting further coordination with authorities.
