A Middlesbrough man is though to have fallen to his death whilst climbing on his hotel room balcony in Bangkok, Thailand. Although the exact cause of his death remains unknown, the body of 30-year-old Jim Smith was discovered in hotel gardens beneath his fifth floor room.

Smith was well known in the urban exploring community and was a devotee of the practice of seeking out buildings and landmarks to be climbed. He had recently climbed up the Angel of the North. Smith was in Bangkok on business at the time of his death.

Smith’s friends suspect because of his fascination with climbing buildings it is likely he died whilst trying to get into or out of his hotel room via the balcony. On a website dedicated to the urban exploration community, one member who knew Smith said he had a good instinct for climbing and was not clumsy. The site member speculated that Smith may have had the accident after a few drinks, but added that the truth may never be known.

Another post from a member who said he had climbed the Angel of the North with Smith described how scared of heights he was. The post went on to say that even though he suffered from a fear of being in high places, Smith was always the first up a rope.

Members of Smith’s family have flown out to Thailand along with his employer. Cleveland police said they would continue to offer assistance and support to the family.