Heartbroken Irish mum honours ‘special son’ lost on Koh Tao

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of the Irish Examiner

 

Photo of Bob Scott

The mother of a young Irishman paid tribute to her “special son” who died last week while scuba diving in Thailand. The heartbroken mother is now trying to repatriate the body of her beloved 21 year old son from County Clare, whose life was tragically cut short on Koh Tao.

 

Robert “Robby” Kinlan, died unexpectedly on January 9 while on the tropical paradise island of Koh Tao. Kinlan’s remains currently lie in a serene temple on the island of Koh Tao, nestled on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand.

 

Having recently celebrated the achievement of completing an advanced freediving course, the young Irishman was living out his dreams amidst the azure waves of Koh Tao.

 

In an effort to bring him back to Ireland, Kinlan’s friends from the Dive Academy in Inishmore, where he was a cherished member, have launched a heartfelt GoFundMe campaign. The campaign aims to support his grieving mother, Tracy King, who shared a poignant tribute on social media, accompanied by photos of the tranquil temple where her son rests.

“RIP to my precious son Robby. He is resting in this beautiful temple in Koh Tao, Thailand, before his journey back to Ireland. Thanks to all friends and family. Special thanks to the Guziuk family at Dive Academy Inis Mor.”

 

Picture of Robby Kinlan’s body at a temple in Koh Tao courtesy of the Irish Examiner

Kinlan’s friend remains on Koh Tao to ensure he’s “not alone” until his journey home starts. The Guziuk family lovingly described Kinlan as a young man who “lit up every room with his kindness and warmth,” capturing the essence of his generous spirit.

“Robby wasn’t just a friend, he was someone who truly brightened every space with his kindness and warmth. He was always the first to help others, prioritising their needs over his own without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“In Thailand, he was surrounded by many friends and was living his dream, spending his days doing what he loved: freediving and scuba diving in the place that made him happiest.

 

“Now, we seek to honour Robby’s memory in the most meaningful way by supporting his mum and family. We want to offer everyone the chance to say their goodbyes and celebrate the incredible person he was. Any support, no matter how small, would mean the world to his family during this unimaginably difficult time.”

 

The community’s generosity has been overwhelming, raising over 30,000 euros (1.07 million baht) to date in the effort to bring Robby’s remains home, reported the Irish Examiner. If you wish to contribute to this heartfelt cause, you can donate via the GoFundMe page.

 

Details surrounding his death have yet to be released by Thai police.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-01-13

 

 

[Dcheech]

And he went to Koh Tao. What could go wrong?! 🫤

[ChipButty]

Do they know we call that Death Island ? 

[wensiensheng]

The deaths on and around that island continue to mount…..for whatever reason.

 

bearing in mind there are no road deaths,  there just seems to be a recurrent theme

[milesinnz]

maybe he should be cremated in Thailand and have his ashes scattered where he was living out his dream ?

[kingstonkid]

12 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Do they know we call that Death Island ? 

 

Yu hve to assume that if he was a member of a dive club in Ireland that he knew what he was doing.  Hopefully they are able to find out what happened.  I am sort of surprised that thee was not an autopsy.  The cause of death must have been really obvious.

[newbee2022]

Sad story of the tragical death of my fellow citizen.

What went wrong?

Rest in peace.

So young, too early. Heart breaking.

[Will B Good]

5 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 

Yu hve to assume that if he was a member of a dive club in Ireland that he knew what he was doing.  Hopefully they are able to find out what happened.  I am sort of surprised that thee was not an autopsy.  The cause of death must have been really obvious.

Apparently it is known, but has not been disclosed???

[ChaiyaTH]

20 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Do they know we call that Death Island ? 

Phangan has more deaths per day than Koh Tao has per 3 months, just depends what you want to highlight. 

[arick]

30,000 baht for that funeral not more not 30,000 Euros.

[Will B Good]

Horrible thing to say?

 

But when these men die (almost always men)....it is amazing how wonderful, friendly and loving they all are..... they are never total scoundrels whom everyone despised......maybe it's true?......only the good die young......maybe why I'm approaching my 70's, fit and healthy.

[Hakuna Matata]

Oh, my God! RIP

 

Koh Tao is a damned place.

 

Better to avoid this place by all means.

[marin]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Details surrounding his death have yet to be released by Thai police.

 

 

9 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

I am sort of surprised that thee was not an autopsy

They reported there are no detail of his death. So how do you know there was no autopsy? Nobody knows anything yet the Koh Tao death island brigade are out in full force. Lets wait for some details. 

[spidermike007]

Death Island claims another one. I wonder what the circumstances were in this particular case, typically you're diving with a buddy and you just don't hear about too many people at that relatively low level of diving skill dying from scuba.

 

The well deserved reputation of Dark Tao continues. 

[Tropicalevo]

5 minutes ago, arick said:

30,000 baht for that funeral not more not 30,000 Euros.

 

The family want his body for a funeral to be held in Ireland.

Repatriation of a body is more than 30,000 baht.

[Will B Good]

4 minutes ago, marin said:

 

They reported there are no detail of his death. So how do you know there was no autopsy? Nobody knows anything yet the Koh Tao death island brigade are out in full force. Lets wait for some details. 

 

My money is on the covid19 vaccine.....mark my words.....yet another cover up.

[Jonathan Swift]

Regardless of the surrounding circumstances, or whether people want to lecture on carelessness or not, it always makes me so sad to see young people come here and then die tragically in the midst of the experience of a lifetime. The anguish of the families is, like they say, heartbreaking. 

[CharlieH]

 

[yogavnture]

i follow these type of stories.  sometimes scuba divers go scuba diving before going freediving afterwards this can be deadly as getting the bends is possible is this what  happened . if you free dive do it before not after scuba diving

[Tropicalevo]

33 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Do they know we call that Death Island ? 

 

Not sure who you mean by 'we'.

It seems to be mostly folk who make comments on AN.

Me, the Thais and foreigners that I know, have never called it Death Island.

We always call it Koh Tao.

Quite a few of my friends go diving there regularly.

They are all still alive......

 

for now. 

[Dmaxdan]

9 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

My money is on the covid19 vaccine.....mark my words.....yet another cover up.

Yes because the COVID 19 vaccine is to blame for the death or every single person that has died globally since the pandemic...

[Docno]

13 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

My money is on the covid19 vaccine.....mark my words.....yet another cover up.

Consider your words 'marked' ... now how do we verify if your prediction/assertion is true?

[JoePai]

Details of this accident need to be published in order for other to learn – that is if any mistakes were made

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

Yes because the COVID 19 vaccine is to blame for the death or every single person that has died globally since the pandemic...

 

 

I know...it really is terrible.....and msm are helping to cover it up.

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, Docno said:

Consider your words 'marked' ... now how do we verify if your prediction/assertion is true?

 

Easy...have the msm said it was due to the vaccine?...NO.....so they must be covering up the fact it was.

[2long]

Freediving and scuba diving are not the same thing.

How he died, and what activity he was doing at the time, is important to know.

[Robin]

Another bunch of scroungers wanting Go Fund me to pay their expenses

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Dcheech said:

And he went to Koh Tao. What could go wrong?! 🫤

A lot, but without an autopsy who knows?

[Liverpool Lou]

35 minutes ago, arick said:

30,000 baht for that funeral not more not 30,000 Euros.

It's not just for a funeral, it's for repatriation and a funeral in Ireland.

[Nick Carter icp]

They wanted to raise 25 000 Euros .

They have already raised 37 000 Euros .

The go fund me is still open for more donations ,

The average cost for body repatriations is 4000 Euros .

Maybe they want to repatriate ALL those who have died on Koa Tao ?

Maybe he was such a nice guy that he's binging Hannah Witheridge and David Miller and all the others back with him ?