British Boxer Dies After Phuket Tuk-Tuk Fall

Always sad to read these stories of young lives tragically lost needlessly.

Condolences to his family and his friends.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Colin Cairney, an undefeated Scottish welterweight boxer, has died aged 22 after suffering catastrophic injuries in a road incident during a holiday in Thailand. Cairney had been left on life support following the incident, which occurred in the early hours of 14 June on the island of Phuket.

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His boxing club, Team 1314, confirmed his death in a statement posted on a GoFundMe page established to support his family. The club described the loss as devastating and paid tribute to a boxer they said was “family” and a valued part of the team.

According to reports, Cairney was returning to his hotel after a night of partying in Phuket when the incident happened. It is understood he became involved in a dispute with the driver of a tuk-tuk over payment of the fare.

The driver was reportedly taking him to an ATM so he could withdraw cash. During the return journey, Cairney fell from the back of the vehicle and suffered a severe head injury.

Emergency medical personnel arrived at approximately 4.10am and transported him to Patong Hospital. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was later transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further treatment.

Before his death was confirmed, Cairney’s family launched a GoFundMe appeal seeking assistance to return him to the UK for treatment and recovery. The fundraising page raised more than GBP60,000.

The family wrote: “We are reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for help for our son, who has been seriously injured in an accident while in Thailand.” They added: “What began as a normal trip has turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Following confirmation of his death, tributes continued to be paid by friends, supporters and members of the boxing community. Team 1314 said: “Everyone at Team 1314 is absolutely devastated by the loss of our Colin.” The club added: “Colin, you will be remembered forever and will always be in our hearts. Rest easy, Champ.”

A separate fundraiser organised by Team 1314 has raised more than GBP55,000. The club described the period as “an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time for everyone who knows and loves him.”

The Sun reported that Cairney leaves behind an unbeaten professional record of 10 victories from 10 fights, including six wins by knockout. His family, friends and supporters are now mourning his loss while continuing arrangements following his death.

Picture courtesy of The Sun

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Adapted by ASEAN Now The-Sun 18 June 2026

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Sad sad end of a young life. This end will save him from a terrible so called life then. RIP

Even with insurance they will not be paying out. alcohol in your system, not restrained by seat belt etc etc

In the story titled

"Tuk-Tuk Driver Sought After British Tourist Hurt in Phuket"

This was reported:

"The vehicle reportedly passed The Nature hotel without turning in to drop off the passenger and was seen travelling at speed before Kearney fell from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries."

Anyways Sad Event. RIP.

With the details above I could understand the Boxers concern and may have been attempting to notify the driver to stop when he fell to the road.

Only the good die young,RIP.

7 minutes ago, J Branche said:

In the story titled

"Tuk-Tuk Driver Sought After British Tourist Hurt in Phuket"

This was reported:

"The vehicle reportedly passed The Nature hotel without turning in to drop off the passenger and was seen travelling at speed before Kearney fell from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries."

Anyways Sad Event. RIP.

With the details above I could understand the Boxers concern and may have been attempting to notify the driver to stop when he fell to the road.

And after the driver passed the hotel without stopping, later cctv shows him "falling" from tuk tuk. So why would driver pass his hotel in first place? And can that cctv actually determine what his condition was when he "fell"

23 minutes ago, howerde said:

Even with insurance they will not be paying out. alcohol in your system, not restrained by seat belt etc etc

Yes, not the safest way to travel, no seat-belts and no doors!

11 minutes ago, Keeenok Powell said:

Only the good die young,RIP.

Jesus died not young. Not a good one though? 😳

5 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Yes, not the safest way to travel, no seat-belts and no doors!

Well, it's all voluntarily. No one forces anybody to take risks.

Don't complain if something goes wrong.

where is the driver ? did they find him ? foul play ?

Yeah, he was drunk, in an argument, Jumped, etc etc.

It's a miracle that more of us didn't die because of all the dumb crap we all did around that age.

RIP kid. You died too early.

Absolute tragedy. Surly the police are looking into the "passing the hotel" circumstances.

This seems to be getting a regular thing Brits falling or being pushed off Tuk Tuks in Phuket and Pattaya plus alcohol involved does not help the situation

44 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, it's all voluntarily. No one forces anybody to take risks.

Don't complain if something goes wrong.

I'm not complaining, just stating facts, the kid died, he can't complain?

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The driver was reportedly taking him to an ATM so he could withdraw cash. During the return journey, Cairney fell from the back of the vehicle and suffered a severe head injury

Wasn't it recently reported that he did withdraw money from the ATM, paid driver and the tuk driver did return him to the hotel BUT instead of stopping the driver continued down the road ... for whatever reason? So there was speculation that he may have jumped from the tuk (not fell) after passing the hotel going to where?

1 hour ago, Point Arguello said:

And after the driver passed the hotel without stopping, later cctv shows him "falling" from tuk tuk. So why would driver pass his hotel in first place? And can that cctv actually determine what his condition was when he "fell"

Did he fall or was he trying to jump off because they had passed his hotel.

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Jesus died not young. Not a good one though? 😳

Jesus, the moderately successful light entertainer,,,?

A tragic loss of such a young man

Condolences to his family and friends

RIP

Sadly the roads Thailand are far more dangerous than boxing' condolences Rip🤔

Did he fall or was he pushed?

Oh wait......are we allowed to express opinions, ideas, speculate?

It seems to really upset the delicate ones amongst us.

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Did he fall or was he trying to jump off because they had passed his hotel.

1) The question of why the driver passed his hotel only makes sense if the Brit was incapacitated. Why else would driver do that. Instead of returning the Brit to his hotel after atm payment? The Brit was pushed out of tuk tuk after hotel was passed.

9 minutes ago, Point Arguello said:

1) The question of why the driver passed his hotel only makes sense if the Brit was incapacitated. Why else would driver do that. Instead of returning the Brit to his hotel after atm payment? The Brit was pushed out of tuk tuk after hotel was passed.

Who pushed him?

Perhaps the injuries were sustained before the fall. A hard strike to the head with a pipe, for example.

Reading comprehension challenged? This is exactly the scenario I have stated. Again: The Brit was taken to atm. Then attacked. Driver passes the Brits hotel and the incapacitated Brit is off loaded on the road. * And the motive would seem that the amount withdrawn from atm would have been in (far) excess of tuk tuk fare. There should be a record of that amount, if any one cares to check

I think an incredible amount of guesswork going on here.

Terribly sorry for the young man's family.

Awful state of affairs for a promising young Scottish talent.

RIP young man, so sad.

This sounds like it was NOT the kid's fault.

Perhaps a TukTuk scam?

Maybe he was being overcharged and therefore had insufficient funds?

Still, this is a lesson to all: Never drink and then leave one's house in Thailand...

If partying, then invite a friends for a sleepover.

It seems that many get into trouble because they are not aware of the differences one finds here, compared to home countries.

For example, I never take TukTuks, though I see others doing so.

I do not like them.

Unfortunately, they are often romanticized in Tourist Literature....

Perhaps the Tuk Tuk driver was deliberately speeding so that the lad could not get off to do a runner. There is a report that the Tuk Tuk was speeding . Just saying.

A tuk-tuk driver has confessed in connection with the death of #Scottish professional boxer Colin Cairney, 29, who fell from a vehicle in Patong, Phuket, and later died.

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/2067528933961269568

Awfully sad.

RIP Colin

Condolences to this young man’s family, friends and loved ones.

7 hours ago, howerde said:

Even with insurance they will not be paying out. alcohol in your system, not restrained by seat belt etc etc

Alcohol yes, but what tuk tuk has seat belts? Bit hard to wear a seat belt where they don't exist. Nevertheless, if he fell off the back, he certainly wasn't travelling safety.

UPDATE

Tuk-Tuk Driver Surrenders Over Briton’s Death in Phuket