UK Coroner Orders Second Post-Mortem After British Man's Mysterious Death in Thailand
A British coroner has ordered a second post-mortem examination for a 21-year-old man who died under mysterious circumstances while on holiday in Thailand, following concerns that the initial investigation did not fully explain the tragic events.
Unanswered Questions Surrounding Joshua Kershaw's Death
Joshua Kershaw, a young landscaper from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 14, just hours after being admitted to a local hospital. His family, who reside in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, revealed earlier this month that his body had been repatriated to the United Kingdom.
On February 25, Mr Kershaw was laid to rest following a service at Wakefield Crematorium in South Yorkshire. However, it has since emerged that Wakefield Coroners have ordered a second post-mortem to confirm the cause of death after the Thai investigation left several unresolved issues.
Family's Concerns and Coroner's Actions
Wakefield Coroners have confirmed that a post-mortem has been conducted in the UK and they are currently awaiting the results. Mr Kershaw's aunt, Jade Kershaw, 31, stated: 'The coroners decided to perform another post-mortem. I don't want to go into a lot of detail but there were a lot of different things from the Thai investigation that didn't add up. Hopefully, this one can confirm how he died.'
The family has been given a preliminary cause of death, which they have chosen not to disclose to avoid causing confusion. It remains unknown when the results of the latest UK-based post-mortem will be revealed.
Timeline of Events Leading to the Tragedy
Mr Kershaw had flown to Bangkok, Thailand, for a week's holiday on January 12 and checked into Maxim's Inn hotel. He had informed his family that he was travelling to the southern tourist city of Pattaya for the trip, but he never made it out of Bangkok.
Two days later, on January 14, his body was discovered by shocked hotel maids in his room. The family reported that he was found in his bed with a bandage around his arm. Officers reportedly attempted to resuscitate him before taking him away.
Tragically, because the family had told the British Embassy he was missing in Pattaya, where they believed he had travelled, no one knew of his whereabouts until a week after his death.
Final Hours and Investigation Details
CCTV footage from the night Mr Kershaw died shows him returning to his hotel and speaking with a member of staff. It was later revealed that CCTV caught him sitting in a bar eating pizza and fried chicken shortly before he collapsed.
Bar staff suspected he had been eating too quickly and choked on his food. An ambulance rushed him to Chulalongkorn hospital, according to an eyewitness. However, it is thought Mr Kershaw later discharged himself and is understood to have returned to the busy party strip until 5.45am when he was seen returning to his hotel room, carrying two beers. He was found dead later that afternoon.
West Yorkshire Police have stated they were 'not involved' in the decision for the post-mortem to take place, highlighting that this is a matter being handled independently by the coroner's office.
