A British businessman has been found dead in a drainage canal in Phuket, Thailand, with CCTV footage showing him pacing restlessly outside his hotel before his disappearance. Local police reported that the body was discovered by a Burmese worker harvesting morning glory vegetables near Bang Tao Beach on Saturday, March 14.
The deceased, a British national, was found barefoot, wearing a grey shirt and black trousers. His body had begun to bloat due to prolonged submersion, and initial checks revealed no visible signs of assault. An iPhone 17 was found on the bank nearby, and a key card for the CoCo Hotel was in his pocket, which helped identify him.
Lieutenant Colonel Sutthirak Chuthong of Choeng Thale district police station stated that the hotel had been unable to contact the man. A search of his room showed no signs of forced entry or irregularities. CCTV footage from the hotel captured the man appearing restless and moving back and forth before leaving the area, eventually leading to the location where his body was discovered.
Lieutenant Colonel Thongchai Matitham added that the man had checked in alone and was due to check out on March 13 but never did. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results from Vachira Phuket Hospital to determine if drugs were present in his system. The man is believed to have been dead for no more than two days.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.” The case remains under investigation, and CCTV footage cannot be released at this stage.
