A retired British aviation engineer has been found dead in his rented room in Nan province, northern Thailand, just days after divorcing his Thai wife. The 74-year-old former engineer from Southport had reportedly been bedridden for months and living alone when his landlord discovered him lying motionless inside the property on Monday 11 May.

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Police were alerted after the landlord, identified only as Kham, became concerned and looked through the window of the rented room. Officers arrived to find the Brit lying on the bed, with a mug, water bottles and a rubbish bag nearby, while unopened Korean soju, sandwich spreads and more bottles of water were found on a nearby table.

According to police, there were no signs of a struggle, assault, or forced entry at the scene. Police Captain Trairat Tengtrairat of Mueang Nan Police Station said investigators believed the man may have died from an underlying medical condition.

The Brit had reportedly been renting the room for about a year after separating from his wife. Kham said the man drank heavily and smoked frequently before his health deteriorated several months ago, leaving him unable to walk.

Kham said relatives of the man’s ex-wife had been bringing him food and helping care for him during his illness. The landlord added that the Brit had last been seen alive around two days before his body was discovered.

The man’s ex-wife confirmed that the couple had finalised their divorce only a few days before his death. She said his heavy drinking and smoking had affected his health and contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.

Police examined and photographed the scene before carrying out a reconstruction as part of the investigation. The body was later transferred to Nan Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Thai authorities said they were coordinating with the British Embassy and related agencies following the discovery. Officials confirmed the embassy had been notified for further handling of the case. The Sun reported that while police do not currently suspect foul play, the investigation remains ongoing pending the post-mortem results and official procedures.

Picture courtesy of The Sun

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thesun 13 May 2026

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Kham said the man drank heavily and smoked frequently before his health deteriorated several months ago, leaving him unable to walk.

Not the smartest thing to do at that age, RIP

6 minutes ago, balo said:

Quote

Kham said the man drank heavily and smoked frequently before his health deteriorated several months ago, leaving him unable to walk.

Not the smartest thing to do at that age, RIP

My friend drinks 7 days a week aged 80. Doctors told him to stop. He won't listen. Says drinking is fun.

Well life's what you make it. At 80 I would probably try to run a maraton.

2 minutes ago, balo said:

Well life what's you make it. At 80 I would probably try to run a maraton.

Some people won't listen to advice. He won't.

Sounds rather sad.

check his life insurance...ex wife beneficiary ?

3 minutes ago, TopThai1964 said:

check his life insurance...ex wife beneficiary ?

yep, just days after the divorce is highly suspicious.

if you're in that deep, there's no escape. there is no divorce.

3 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

My friend drinks 7 days a week aged 80. Doctors told him to stop. He won't listen. Says drinking is fun.

I had an uncle who lived to 98. I never thought he would make it to that age because he was in the pub every night on the beers and I asked him what is his secret to longevity and he said rum. I said what do you mean rum and he replied that every night before he goes to bed he has a glass of warm milk with 2 nips of rum in it and every morning he puts 2 nips of rum in his porridge. He died at 98 during covid. No he didn't die of covid he died because the liquor stores were closed and he ran out of rum.

4 hours ago, balo said:

Well life's what you make it. At 80 I would probably try to run a marathon.

Well it might be a better death than being bedridden. Although maybe die being bed ridden is the best option.

38 minutes ago, TopThai1964 said:

check his life insurance...ex wife beneficiary ?

What's the problem with his ex-wife being a beneficiary?

Maybe he didn't want the divorce and mentally gave up on life once it was finalised; if he's been bedridden for months, it's not particularly suspicious to me.

36 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

yep, just days after the divorce is highly suspicious.

if you're in that deep, there's no escape. there is no divorce.

What will be your suspicion about his ex-wife?

"if you're in that deep, there's no escape. there is no divorce"

What does that mean?

The price of alcohol doesn’t end with the purchase.

Sad end.

Yes i have to agree drinking alcohol and smoking are probably not the best things to do together health wise as has been proven

5 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Some people won't listen to advice. He won't.

What advice is a 80 year old supposed to

listen to ?

22 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

What advice is a 80 year old supposed to

listen to ?

It's not just about the length of a life but its quality...

1 hour ago, ryandb said:

Maybe he didn't want the divorce and mentally gave up on life once it was finalised; if he's been bedridden for months, it's not particularly suspicious to me.

What I thought after reading the story. Many elderly partners die soon after their partner does, giving up as you say, and a blow like this could do the same thing.

35 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

What advice is a 80 year old supposed to

listen to ?

I told him do whatever makes you happy

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Is not completely strange way to die althhough 74 today not "too" old either.

Ex-wife apparently had access to house of completely helpless bedbound man, so question would be, does she inherit despite divorce? If so, can be more than seems...

5 hours ago, balo said:

Well life's what you make it. At 80 I would probably try to run a maraton.

I'm 81 yo, I walk for 90 minutes every day. I don't start drinking till 5 pm, then I drink 1or 2 large bottles every night. I've been a beer drinker for the past 65 years, so why stop now?

British Embassy need CID attaches to "assist" to investigate the case such as this.

Before say no that is too much cost and effort for mere "tourist", be aware UK Embassy still have two permanent military defense attache in Bangkok... surely more effort and "threat" to Thai government and... why?

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What will be your suspicion about his ex-wife?

"if you're in that deep, there's no escape. there is no divorce"

What does that mean?

so you dont find it suspicious that the death happened a few days after the divorce?

18 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What will be your suspicion about his ex-wife?

"if you're in that deep, there's no escape. there is no divorce"

What does that mean?

so you dont find it suspicious that the death happened a few days after the divorce

No, not at all. What do you find suspicious about the death of a 74-year-old immobile, bedridden, heavy drinking and smoking person with known deteriorating health?

What are you supposing is the benefit to the ex-wife that wouldn't have been there before his death?

35 minutes ago, klaikangwon said:

Is not completely strange way to die althhough 74 today not "too" old either.

Ex-wife apparently had access to house of completely helpless bedbound man, so question would be, does she inherit despite divorce? If so, can be more than seems...

Alcohol and smoking age people. His lungs, kidneys, liver and heart were most likely destroyed.

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

yep, just days after the divorce is highly suspicious.

if you're in that deep, there's no escape. there is no divorce.

Bad timing of you ask me

24 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so you dont find it suspicious that the death happened a few days after the divorce?

He may have began drinking more when the divorce arrived which caused his death .

4 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Alcohol and smoking age people. His lungs, kidneys, liver and heart were most likely destroyed.

Oh please to say man drunk and smoked is not explanation for any and every death. The Winston Churchill lived to 90 as alcohol cigar smoker. It is contributory to poor health but far from fatal on its own. Money can be fatal...

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

He may have began drinking more when the divorce arrived which caused his death .

Yes blaim his X wife, for leaving him because he was drinking, and make him drink more leading up to his early death.

Seams her family tried to look after him after all, and surely they bought more alcohol for him, so?