A 41-year-old British tourist, Zakir Mahood, has been found dead inside a hotel room in Patong, Phuket, after displaying a "Do Not Disturb" sign for several days. Police were alerted on 3 August after the man, who had been staying alone since 24 July, failed to respond when hotel staff checked his room on his scheduled departure date. Police Lieutenant Colonel Rapeepan Chumtham, an investigator at Patong Police Station, reported the case to Patong Police Chief Colonel Krakrit Khankruea before travelling to the hotel in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district, with relevant officers. Hotel check-out prompted discovery The hotel's head housekeeper, who found the body, told police that the British guest had been due to check out on 3 August. The room was last cleaned on 27 July. After that, the guest had placed a "Do Not Disturb" sign outside his door, meaning staff did not enter the room again. At about 11am on 3 August, the head housekeeper went to inspect the room because it was the guest's check-out day. After knocking and receiving no reply, staff opened the door and found him dead inside. Officers found no signs that the room had been ransacked or anything was missing and no evidence of a struggle, according to the initial examination. The cause of the British man's death has not yet been established. Post-mortem examination under way Investigators examined the body with forensic doctor Athit Surawisakul. Their preliminary assessment was that the man had been dead for around 24 hours. However, the exact cause of death could not be confirmed at the scene and will depend on a detailed post-mortem examination. Authorities asked Kusoldharm Phuket Rescue Foundation's Patong unit to transfer the body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further examination. Police have also contacted the embassy and arrangements made for the body to be collected for religious rites, in line with procedure. Join the discussion? 4 August 2026
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