British Tourist Found Dead in Phuket Drainage Ditch

[Cabradelmar]

Slip and fall. Simple. Tragic. 

[edwinchester]

From the pic it looks as though he's balancing on the grey water pipe. If he did have a few drinks, yes speculating I know, then he may have thought if some fun to walk the length of the pipe.

[newbee2022]

17 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

 

Authorities in Phuket are investigating the death of a British tourist whose body was discovered in a drainage ditch opposite Patong Hospital on Pra Metha Road. The tragic incident was reported to the Patong Police by locals who spotted the body early morning on 20 November.

 

Police Sub-Lieutenant Phongsathorn Phothong, on duty at the time, received the report and coordinated with forensic medical staff from Vachira Phuket Hospital, as well as Patong Police Station Chief Police Colonel Chalermchai Hoernsawat, and the investigative team to examine the scene.

 

Upon arrival, officers cordoned off the area and inspected the site. The drainage ditch, located on the pavement and secured with a 1 metre high steel railing, contained the body of a male. The body was floating in the water, and initial identification efforts failed to confirm the individual’s identity or nationality.

 

 

Rescue volunteers from Kusoldharm Foundation recovered the body, allowing forensic doctor Dr. Tulayawit Wannasri to conduct a preliminary examination. The deceased was identified as Mr. Wright, a 36-year-old British national, There were no visible injuries on the body, and the time of death was estimated to be 5-6 hours prior to the discovery. The cause of death is believed to be drowning.

 

Miss Isabel, a 17 year old relative of the deceased, provided details to the police. She explained that Mr. Wright had traveled to Phuket with his family on November 17, staying at the Seaview Hotel, Room 321. On the evening of November 19, around 22:00 Mr. Wright left the hotel and could not be contacted.

 

CCTV footage from the area was reviewed and showed there was no evidence of foul play and the victim was on his own when climbing over the railings and falling in. Miss Isabel confirmed the identity of the deceased as her relative.

 

The body has been sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a detailed autopsy. The case has been recorded as Forensic Case No. 75/2024, and police are working with the British Embassy to inform Mr. Wright’s family in the UK.

 

Local authorities continue to investigate the incident to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Mr. Wright’s death.

 

Pictures from responders.

 

-- 2024-11-20

 

Probably totally drunk or stoned or both. 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
British Tourist Dies in Patong Drain Accident; Family Confirm No Foul Play

 

 

The family of a British tourist who tragically drowned after falling into a roadside drain in Patong has expressed they have no suspicion of foul play, following the review of CCTV footage.

 

Investigators have reviewed nearby CCTV footage to determine the events leading up to the death. Once the body was retrieved, forensic specialist Dr. Tulya Wich Wansri identified the deceased as Mr. Fraser Wright, a 36-year-old British national. No external injuries were observed, and it was determined that the cause of death was attributed to suffocation by drowning.

 

Miss Katie Isabel, 17, a relative of the deceased, informed investigators that Mr. Wright and his family of three had arrived in Phuket on November 17, staying at Seaview Hotel. On the evening of November 19, around 22:00. Mr. Wright left the hotel room and failed to return. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

Miss Isabel confirmed that, after reviewing the CCTV footage, the family had no concerns about foul play and the victim was alone at the time. The footage showed Mr. Wright climbing over the drain’s barrier before falling into the waterway. It remains unclear the motive for gaining access to the drain.

 

The body has been sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a detailed autopsy to confirm the cause of death and test for alcohol or drugs. Police have logged the incident and notified the British Embassy for further assistance with repatriation.

Picture captured from CCTV.

-- 2024-11-21

 

 

[Aussie999]

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

How does that even happen ???... 

 

Slipped while attempting to retrieve a dropped item (phone or something) ???

 

 

 

 

Why take wild guesses, the guy died, leave it at that, until we hear more.

Have some sympathy fir his relatives. 

[richard_smith237]

14 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

How does that even happen ???... 

 

Slipped while attempting to retrieve a dropped item (phone or something) ???

Why take wild guesses, the guy died, leave it at that, until we hear more.

Have some sympathy fir his relatives. 

 

No nastiness in my question, just pure curiosity as to how such an event evolves... 

 

....  what was the mindset to climb over the railings like that - hence the question, was he trying to retrieve something ?

 

IF you don't want to engage in such discussions its perhaps advisable to read the news instead of logging into a forum designed for discussion.

 

Edited 12 hours ago by richard_smith237

[Old Croc]

44 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

 

Huh? Says he traveled to Phuket with his family and that a relative confirmed his identity. However it does seem slightly odd that the relative was only 17. Where's the wife? All very mysterious. 

Family of three travelled. The 17yo has a different last name. Perhaps a second marriage?  Perhaps wife too distraught to identify?

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Strange place to have a drainage ditch, but even so, it is cordoned off with a barrier and is quite visible.

Not sure what the guy was up to.

 

I don't think its a drainage ditch - I think its an 'access ditch' where a water pipe can be accessed should the pipe-work need servicing.

 

Others have mentioned that a grate over the top would have been better than having a 'barrier' around the ditch, but, who would have thought someone would climb over it ? its not quite the trip hazard some are implying.

Another note - given the levels of maintenance here, IF there were to be a grate, over the years it would have eroded into a bigger hazard.

[Thingamabob]

16 hours ago, BritScot said:

Nasty people jump straight to Blaming the foreigner "He must be drunk"! Try looking at the photo. Barrier, that is a little exaggerated, look at it, it's almost knee hight at the large step. Path is also unsafe with several area's one could trip resulting in one tripping. The other fact is its outside a hospital. Maybe he was going to the hospital, tripped and died. This should never have happened,  the drain should have been covered,  no massive steps and flat smooth sidewalks.  Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world at best except for sky train and MRT. Let us not forget the possibility of being nocked in by a motorbike driving on the path. Lots of possibilities.  Stop Blaming foreigners. 

Stop blaming Thailand. While not up to some first world standards the infrastructure in Thailand in terms of roads, rail. airports. hotels, offices, communications etc. is good. In my own home country, so called first world,  the infrastrucure is creaking to put it mildly. Main roads are potholed and the trains seldom run on time.

Having said that, very sorry for Mr. Wright, and his family and friends. RIP.

[MalcolmB]

16 hours ago, BritScot said:

Nasty people jump straight to Blaming the foreigner

It was the foreigner jumping in to the ditch. 
I am a blaming him.
 

 

16 hours ago, BritScot said:

Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world at best

Nasty people blame the Thais for a foreigner climbing over safety barriers and jumping in a ditch.

They blame the Thais for absolutely everything and it makes me wonder why are they even in this country? 
Despite CCTV evidence proving that he had nobody to blame but himself. 

 

Farang Apologist of the Week Award goes BritScot.

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

It was the foreigner jumping in to the ditch. 
I am a blaming him.
 

 

Nasty people blame the Thais for a foreigner climbing over safety barriers and jumping in a ditch.

They blame the Thais for absolutely everything and it makes me wonder why are they even in this country? 
Despite CCTV evidence proving that he had nobody to blame but himself. 

 

Farang Apologist of the Week Award goes BritScot.

 

And nasty people twist things...   He didn't 'jump into the ditch' as you state.

 

He was silly and exercised terrible judgment and 'climbed over the barrier slipped' we've no idea why... it could have been to retrieve something - its unlikely we'll ever know his mind-set and the possible reason for behaving why he did.

 

But your suggestion that he 'jumped into the ditch' highlights the degree of insensitivity and nastiness that you are now very well known for...  What a vapid character you are.

 

 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by richard_smith237

[Thingamabob]

12 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

It was the foreigner jumping in to the ditch. 
I am a blaming him.
 

 

Nasty people blame the Thais for a foreigner climbing over safety barriers and jumping in a ditch.

They blame the Thais for absolutely everything and it makes me wonder why are they even in this country? 
Despite CCTV evidence proving that he had nobody to blame but himself. 

 

Farang Apologist of the Week Award goes BritScot.

Well said.

[Jonathan Swift]

16 hours ago, BritScot said:

Nasty people jump straight to Blaming the foreigner "He must be drunk"! Try looking at the photo. Barrier, that is a little exaggerated, look at it, it's almost knee hight at the large step. Path is also unsafe with several area's one could trip resulting in one tripping. The other fact is its outside a hospital. Maybe he was going to the hospital, tripped and died. This should never have happened,  the drain should have been covered,  no massive steps and flat smooth sidewalks.  Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world at best except for sky train and MRT. Let us not forget the possibility of being nocked in by a motorbike driving on the path. Lots of possibilities.  Stop Blaming foreigners. 

Saying that he was probably drunk is not a personal affront to his character. Intoxication is a leading cause of death from a variety of causes. That’s a fact. And it’s therefore not unreasonable to suspect intoxication as a possible factor. So nobody is “blaming foreigners”. And everybody knows that the infrastructure is 3rd world, nobody is discounting that. But everybody also knows that barriers are there for a reason, and nobody pushed him. Until a formal autopsy is performed no one will know for sure and people are entitled to speculate and they will do so. 

[MalcolmB]

17 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

What a vapid character you are.

I think you will find that BritScot was aiming his comments at you, and not me.

But carry on.

[Patong2021]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Strange place to have a drainage ditch, but even so, it is cordoned off with a barrier and is quite visible.

Not sure what the guy was up to.

 

 Patong  has many of these types of sewage/drainage catchment areas. Usually they have grates over them. An example are the grates on the side of the  entrance to the Jungceylon (Patong) parking area  at Rat u Thit Rd. The railings shown are not particularly secure, but at least there is something.  

 

[Georgealbert]

This is the CCTV of the incident, courtesy of Workpoint News.

 

 

[kiwikeith]

17 hours ago, BritScot said:

Nasty people jump straight to Blaming the foreigner "He must be drunk"! Try looking at the photo. Barrier, that is a little exaggerated, look at it, it's almost knee hight at the large step. Path is also unsafe with several area's one could trip resulting in one tripping. The other fact is its outside a hospital. Maybe he was going to the hospital, tripped and died. This should never have happened,  the drain should have been covered,  no massive steps and flat smooth sidewalks.  Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world at best except for sky train and MRT. Let us not forget the possibility of being nocked in by a motorbike driving on the path. Lots of possibilities.  Stop Blaming foreigners. 

Could have dodged a bike, or dropped something in, if thats the case they would probably find it, or he was pushed, who knows , bur poor safety around the drain, tragic.

[Andrew Dwyer]

4 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

This is the CCTV of the incident, courtesy of Workpoint News.

 

 

Thanks, that clearly shows him deliberately climbing over the barrier after having a peak down the hole.

[FritsSikkink]

19 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

How does that even happen ???... 

 

Slipped while attempting to retrieve a dropped item (phone or something) ???

 

 

 

 

"CCTV footage from the area was reviewed and showed there was no evidence of foul play and the victim was on his own when climbing over the railings and falling in"

[FritsSikkink]

17 hours ago, BritScot said:

Nasty people jump straight to Blaming the foreigner "He must be drunk"! Try looking at the photo. Barrier, that is a little exaggerated, look at it, it's almost knee hight at the large step. Path is also unsafe with several area's one could trip resulting in one tripping. The other fact is its outside a hospital. Maybe he was going to the hospital, tripped and died. This should never have happened,  the drain should have been covered,  no massive steps and flat smooth sidewalks.  Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world at best except for sky train and MRT. Let us not forget the possibility of being nocked in by a motorbike driving on the path. Lots of possibilities.  Stop Blaming foreigners. 

CCTV footage from the area was reviewed and showed there was no evidence of foul play and the victim was on his own when climbing over the railings and falling in

[FritsSikkink]

15 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Could have dodged a bike, or dropped something in, if thats the case they would probably find it, or he was pushed, who knows , bur poor safety around the drain, tragic.

Everybody who had a look at the CCTV knows. It was his own fault.

Edited 11 hours ago by FritsSikkink

[mdr224]

1 hour ago, khunpin said:

With a good breakfast he would have been able to make it to the hospital but so ... he made it just to the nearby ditch. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 

Enjoy your breakfasts ... it will take you further than you think. 5555ๆ

Shameless

[NanLaew]

17 hours ago, BritScot said:

Nasty people jump straight to Blaming the foreigner "He must be drunk"! Try looking at the photo. Barrier, that is a little exaggerated, look at it, it's almost knee hight at the large step. Path is also unsafe with several area's one could trip resulting in one tripping. The other fact is its outside a hospital. Maybe he was going to the hospital, tripped and died. This should never have happened,  the drain should have been covered,  no massive steps and flat smooth sidewalks.  Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world at best except for sky train and MRT. Let us not forget the possibility of being nocked in by a motorbike driving on the path. Lots of possibilities.  Stop Blaming foreigners. 

 

Where are your knees? Nothing wrong with that barrier. It's higher than a condo balcony.

 

The cctv didn't reveal any "motorbike driving on the path" either. But it did reveal the victim climbing over the barrier.

[NanLaew]

6 hours ago, Dakhar said:

Could have been walking and staring at his phone. Those rails are trip level high... Horrible way to go.

 

What rails are "trip level high"?

 

Are your knees funny like @BritScot's

[NanLaew]

That darned overproof THC again...

[Thingamabob]

Thanks for posting the video. Having studied it many times poor Mr Wright's actions still remain a mystery. He appears to be looking over a well constructed steel fence, having just arrived at that point and not, apparently, having previously dropped an item into the drainage hole. Then, for some reason,he goes to the end of the fenced off area, climbs, over the fence, and falls down the hole. Maybe he dropped an item into the hole earlier than indicated in the video and returned there some time later to retrieve it. A search of the contents of the drainage hole may help to explain what was in his mind at the time.

[steven100]

We can only guess at what really happened as we weren't there.    Was he intoxicated and dropped something accidently and it rolled into the drainage area,  and he then went to retrieve it   ?

 

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

18 hours ago, BritScot said:

Thailand inferstructuer is 3rd world

Hahahahahaaaa!

[Blueman1]

4 hours ago, arick said:

And where is Mr wright from?

Why ?? Does THAT Make ANY Difference ??

[Captor]

Aha...room 321!