A 28-year-old British man died in a road traffic collision while travelling in Thailand, an inquest in Liverpool has heard. Liam Anelay, from Liverpool, was riding a scooter in Phuket on January 28, 2026, when he was involved in a fatal crash while on his way to meet friends.
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The inquest at Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool on Thursday 11 June 2026, heard that Mr Anelay had been exploring Thailand with friends for around three weeks before the crash. The court was told that a parked car, suddenly moved forward and carried out a u-turn as he approached on his scooter.
According to evidence presented at the hearing, the driver is believed to have been unaware that Mr Anelay was approaching before making the manoeuvre. Following the collision, the driver stopped and remained at the scene, reportedly cradling Mr Anelay until emergency services arrived.
Mr Anelay was taken to Chalong Hospital but was pronounced dead later that afternoon. The inquest heard that he suffered multiple fractures throughout his body, including injuries to his skull, ribs and legs. His cause of death was recorded as multiple injuries sustained in a road traffic collision.
Area Coroner Helen Rimmer told the hearing: “Liam died on the 28 January, 2026, in Thailand. Liam was travelling on a scooter in Thailand when he was hit by a car that was completing a u-turn.”
She added: “The driver of the car remained with Liam until emergency services arrived.” Ms Rimmer also stated: “Liam suffered multiple injuries as a result of the road traffic collision.”
The coroner concluded that Mr Anelay’s death was the result of a road traffic collision. Offering her condolences, Ms Rimmer said: “I would be grateful if my condolences could be forwarded to all of Liam’s family after the tragic accident that led to his death.”
At the time of his death, Mr Anelay was living in the area south of Liverpool city centre and worked as a production line operator.
His mother, Christina, paid tribute to her son on social media following his death. She wrote: “How the hell can this even be possible me writing this but my baby boy, my heart is so badly shattered into a million pieces, it still can’t sink in to my brain that I have lost you.”
She added: “My life will never be the same ever, I really don’t know how I can do this Liam. My baby boy please keep shining down on me, untill we meet again my beautiful gorgeous smiling boy, I love you so much and my heart will ache for you untill I see you again.”
Anelay's tragic passing highlights the persistent and grave danger facing international tourists. Thailand's roadways are statistically among the most perilous on the planet, particularly for operators of two-wheeled vehicles. According to the World Health Organization, the country frequently records upward of 20,000 road fatalities annually, with motorcyclists accounting for the vast majority of the death toll.
For British nationals traveling to Southeast Asia, the allure of cheap, accessible motorbike rentals often masks the severe risks inherent in navigating unfamiliar traffic ecosystems. Differences in local driving culture, inconsistent enforcement of traffic regulations, and the chaotic nature of urban thoroughfares in tourist hotspots like Phuket create a highly volatile environment for inexperienced riders.
The Express reported that the inquest has now concluded with a formal finding that Mr Anelay died as a result of a road traffic collision in Thailand.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Express 15 June 2026
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