A retired British aviation engineer has been found dead in his rented room in Nan province, northern Thailand, just days after divorcing his Thai wife. The 74-year-old former engineer from Southport had reportedly been bedridden for months and living alone when his landlord discovered him lying motionless inside the property on Monday 11 May.
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Police were alerted after the landlord, identified only as Kham, became concerned and looked through the window of the rented room. Officers arrived to find the Brit lying on the bed, with a mug, water bottles and a rubbish bag nearby, while unopened Korean soju, sandwich spreads and more bottles of water were found on a nearby table.
According to police, there were no signs of a struggle, assault, or forced entry at the scene. Police Captain Trairat Tengtrairat of Mueang Nan Police Station said investigators believed the man may have died from an underlying medical condition.
The Brit had reportedly been renting the room for about a year after separating from his wife. Kham said the man drank heavily and smoked frequently before his health deteriorated several months ago, leaving him unable to walk.
Kham said relatives of the man’s ex-wife had been bringing him food and helping care for him during his illness. The landlord added that the Brit had last been seen alive around two days before his body was discovered.
The man’s ex-wife confirmed that the couple had finalised their divorce only a few days before his death. She said his heavy drinking and smoking had affected his health and contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.
Police examined and photographed the scene before carrying out a reconstruction as part of the investigation. The body was later transferred to Nan Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Thai authorities said they were coordinating with the British Embassy and related agencies following the discovery. Officials confirmed the embassy had been notified for further handling of the case. The Sun reported that while police do not currently suspect foul play, the investigation remains ongoing pending the post-mortem results and official procedures.
Picture courtesy of The Sun
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thesun 13 May 2026
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