Bangkok - A 25-year-old man has become the third Thai football fan to die while watching the World Cup, suffering an apparent heart attack during the nail-biting final, police said Tuesday.
Teerayuth Noonyod was found dead on Monday morning in a camp bed in front of the television at his aunt's house in Bangkok, police said.
The final football match between France and Italy was broadcast live in Thailand early on Monday.
"We found no wounds on his body and believe that he died of a heart attack while watching the World Cup final," said a police official who declined to be named.
His aunt woke up to the sound of the blaring television and found him dead, the official said.
Last week two other Thai football fans also died of heart failure while watching World Cup games, with police blaming the deaths on fatigue, strong emotions and excessive drinking.
Thailand does not have a team in the World Cup but is passionate about football and gambling on the games.
Police said on Monday that more than 750 people were arrested in Bangkok for illegal gambling during the four weeks of the World Cup, which ended on Sunday with Italy's win over France. - Sapa-AFP