An Australian man was held for questioning today (Mon) after his Thai girlfriend plunged to her death from a balcony in the early hours of the morning.

Wilawal Poolsukserm, 28, plunged from the fifth floor of the Mint Mansion apartment block in Pattaya, Thailand, at 2.30am.

Onlookers said they heard a loud bang as her body hit the ground. Her Australian boyfriend then ran over and broke down in tears as he held her body on the ground.

Paramedics arrived and rushed Wilawal to hospital but she was later pronounced dead. Police took the Australian, who has not been named, for questioning while they investigate the circumstances.

Police Major Sarasak Pinthong from Pattaya Police said officers were looking into whether the fall was suicide.

He said: ''We were notified of the death in the Banglamung district at 2.30am. The woman had fallen from the fifth floor and her body was crushed. Blood was flowing onto the ground.

''At the time of the fall we believe the Australian man was not far away. The woman was taken to hospital but her injuries were too severe. Police are questioning him to determine if the death was suicide or an accident.''

Local taxi driver Sombat Changchai said: ''I saw the woman fallow down to the floor with a loud voice. She was screaming. Then she hit the ground and her body was lying there. I don't what what caused her to fall.''