Dead Foreigner Found Floating Off Phi Phi Islands

[trogers]

Not necessarily related to this...but...

I had a scare of my life visiting Phuket and taking one of those cruises last January. It went along well until we stopped at one Island and we were told that everyone can choose whether to swim ashore or take a canoe. I chose to swim since the beach was about 50-100 meters away. I consider myself quite a good swimmer and am not unfamiliar with long distances.

However, this time while stretching my swim muscles, I noticed that I was not approaching the beach. Quite the opposite. I realised that I was in a very strong sea current floating away from the ship and others. I tried first to wave my hand to the staff that was canooing near me. They noticed me and TURNED THEIR HEADS AWAY! Nice! I tried shouting, no reply. Luckily a lonely Englishman noticed me and came to my rescue. Slightly embarrasing, of course, but beats left floating away.

This is just one example of how security and safety issues are not taken care of in the lovely land of Smile. I haven't got a clue if this was what caused the poor chap to meet the end of his days but I just wonder if anyone had noticed anything in my case. In time, that is.

And just guess who is not taking another cruise ever?

I do my swimming at the pool. I have only a couple of decades more to live and treasure every moment. Why take unnecessary risks?

[smallprawn]

I agree with your point about drunken louts looking for violence but must be careful to judge people, discriminate or gemeralise.

My brother has a tattoo which he had done when he was 16 and has regretted it ever since. He also shaves his head regularly because he has alopecia. He's kind loving person, hates violence and dosnt drink... Just because somebody may shave their head or have a tattoo dose not instantly make them 'nasty' or mean they should be turned away at any airport. Sorry to nit pick but I dont see the automatic assumption/link people make with tattoos/ baldness/shaven heads as meaning they are violent but do agree people intent on getting drunk and violent should be turned away weather bald/shaven/hairy/tattooed or not.

The death of this man is very sad and my thoughts go out to his family and friends.

[warmwater7]

Not necessarily related to this...but...

I had a scare of my life visiting Phuket and taking one of those cruises last January. It went along well until we stopped at one Island and we were told that everyone can choose whether to swim ashore or take a canoe. I chose to swim since the beach was about 50-100 meters away. I consider myself quite a good swimmer and am not unfamiliar with long distances.

However, this time while stretching my swim muscles, I noticed that I was not approaching the beach. Quite the opposite. I realised that I was in a very strong sea current floating away from the ship and others. I tried first to wave my hand to the staff that was canooing near me. They noticed me and TURNED THEIR HEADS AWAY! Nice! I tried shouting, no reply. Luckily a lonely Englishman noticed me and came to my rescue. Slightly embarrasing, of course, but beats left floating away.

This is just one example of how security and safety issues are not taken care of in the lovely land of Smile. I haven't got a clue if this was what caused the poor chap to meet the end of his days but I just wonder if anyone had noticed anything in my case. In time, that is.

And just guess who is not taking another cruise ever?

Well, a similar thing happened to me in the Andaman Sea. I ordered the staff of the boat I rented, to pick me up inbetween two small islands within 20 minutes, and I swam out there (I do speak Thai). I knew about the currents, therefore I could not make it ashore. The boat never appeared, the staff was lying on the beach smoking dope. Exhausted, I managed to clung myself to a piece of styrofoam with a fishtrap attached and waited. I was picked up by a fishing boat later, after on of my friends heard me shouting, and ordered the fishermen to get out there and pick me up. This certain behaviour of negligence might cause or might have caused some more deaths of Farangs in Thailand.

this story is abouy 10 yrs past.

one of several experiences in los where i was at risk of losing this life,occured on a catamaran ferry between koh tao and koh samui.

the captain pulled away from the dock, came about and headed out to very bad water. there was a monsoon right on us, the company went foreward anyway.

about 1 mi out we hit a "potato patch" about 2-4 m. the captain did the excact wrong thing,cut power. we were a cork.

i could hear the water hitting the structure that holds the ships pontoons together begining to break apart.

at that time the captain put us in foreward motion, in perfect tome to put the bow into a 4 m wind wave,

the deck hands rushed foreward as soon as they realised the mistake to secure the bulkhead doors.

she took the wave in the bow directly. filled up the bow w/water,making her bow heavy,

the water rushed through the watertight doors(un maintained) and filled the cabin w about 6-8 in water.

the captain got a break in the wave rythim and got out of the cross currents.

i was working as a divemaster then, and had quietly prepared my life jacket. no direction from the crew. children. up untill then i was convinced we were going in the water.bad scene.

all of the guests were vomiting in the cabin,and it was rushing around the cabin.

as we arrived in koh tao i was shocked to see a full load of passengers,mostly tourists,ready to board. as best as i could w/o "problems" i quietly advised as mamy prospective passengers to re-consider. they wouldn't have any of it.

as i arrived at my dive shop i explained the frightning journey,was mocked by the manager (walter) as i claimed the ship was actually in the process of splitting in half.

the following morning, newspapers reported the ship was in dry dock in chumphon, 4 months out of service.

that operation knew exactly what risks were at hand, and decided on profit.

thailand is a lovely place, like mexico, one would be well advised to refrain from projecting " western" standards onto these nice places. if it seems questionable...................it probably is.

i have been witness to countless mindless horrific mis-non calculations involving thai people,boats and water,and of course songserm.

to exisit in these places it takes time to " read" a given situation. it is impossible for tourist to develop that ability, and the product is " profit "

lao te khun.

in defense of thailand, there are a great many visitors who get off the plain,with one hand on their privates,and the other on their wallet. it seems as they left their brain home.

how would you treat visitors of this caliber in your home country?

sad for the young man who passed. condolences to his family and loved ones. i expect he went having an adventure. i have had many many late night swims w/ one to many in me.

java script:add_smilie(%22:wai:%22,%22smid_54%22)

[thirdeyedmt]

Dead foreigner found floating off Phi Phi Islands

PHUKET: -- Police on Koh Phi Phi are trying to identify the remains of a foreign man whose body was found floating about 3 nautical miles off the Phi Phi Islands in Krabi.

The body was recovered by workers from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization's Tourist Rescue Center, which operates out of Chalong Pier in Phuket.

The exact time of the body's recovery was not given in the police report, made at 10am today.

The man was found wearing only green trousers. His left arm bore a tattoo with the words "mother heart".

Koh Phi Phi subdistrict police are now questioning people on the island and checking missing persons reports from Krabi and surrounding provinces, including Phuket, to try to identify the man.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-05-02

If he is British (likely that or American) all they have to do is stick "left arm tattoo mother heart" in the police computer and bingo... that will narrow it down to only a few. Could be done in less than 5 minutes.

why would you  think , just because he has tattoo' he would be in the police data base?

[Canadianvisitor]

Well there certainly is a lot of chatter with regards to this poor souls passing while in the Ocean.

Maybe a reflection of ourselves the way in which we talk about it.

Poor guy.

It may happen to any of us, anywhere.

I hope he is identified and laid to rest properly, whoever he is.

[songhklasid]

1 reason I beleive (to water accidents) is that a lot of europeans & asians dont know shit about the ocean, swimming in it, reading conditions, i.e. where rips or undertows are likely or do exist. Most aussie males grew up on our beaches, swimming, surfing, spearfishing, fishing, where've all probably had a scare along the way, but learned from it. Anyway my bet he,s a european or yank.

by the way my condolences to his family

regards songhklasid.

[Jungian]

midnight swim gone wrong?

In "green trousers"....

[smallprawn]

Only one statistic is accurate and beyond doubt.

Living causes Death

Get over that and get back on with what you have left.

Sorry to pick on you but, What a strange post??

did you just say life causes death??.... Thanks for the info.

Given the posts I have read, the fact that this thread has been allowed to continue shows a distinct lack of mannors, taste and respect to the victim, their family and friends. Would it not be more suitable to wait until more facts are available?

[brianb1944]

Why so much speculation? a version of the facts will emerge eventually

[lebelge]

Only one statistic is accurate and beyond doubt.

Living causes Death

Get over that and get back on with what you have left.

Sorry to pick on you but, What a strange post??

did you just say life causes death??.... Thanks for the info.

Given the posts I have read, the fact that this thread has been allowed to continue shows a distinct lack of mannors, taste and respect to the victim, their family and friends. Would it not be more suitable to wait until more facts are available?

First of all I'm sorry to hear of any deaths but, what I think he means is that you can sit around and do nothing or take advantage and live life, accidents happen, death happens, and very sad when it does, unfortunately for all concerned.

Even worse when you are far from home

[smallprawn]

Why so much speculation? a version of the facts will emerge eventually

Eventually a version of the facts will emerge (ish) This would maybe a more appropriate time for any speculation to begin if it floats posters boat.

[geriatrickid]

Here we go again.

The autopsies results haven't published, at least not from what I have seen. Speculate all you want, but I'll wait for the blood chemistry and physical exam.

In respect to death rates in the foreign population, look at all the information not just the rates. There is nothing mysterious or sinister in the results. They reflect the foreign population's demographic characterstics of age, mental health and social behaviours. The leading cause of death is still "accident" of which motor vehicle related incidents are #1.

[JustinCredible]

If he is British (likely that or American) all they have to do is stick "left arm tattoo mother heart” in the police computer and bingo... that will narrow it down to only a few. Could be done in less than 5 minutes.

Ahhhh, so he comes to Thailand because he has a Police record?

That might apply to you, but not everyone......

[lubbkis]

Before asking why so many dear foreigners in Thailand, it should be interesting to compare with rates of dead "foreigners" in other countries . I am convinced that it is quite similar (provided that we compare same factors)

According to the British FCO the approximate murder rate of Britons in Thailand is around 5 times that of the UK.

Is the British FCO saying that the approx. murder rate of Britons in Thailand is approx. 5 times the murder rate of Britons in their home country? This does not seem possible.

This is perhaps one reason the Thais so proudly call their country "Amazing Thailand". I had a very similar encounter with a current on an escorted snorkeling tour off Phuket 15 years ago. So called tour guides in Thailand seem not to unerstand the risks they put their customers into. It's also a fact that a lot of tourists on holiday enter into practices that are not part of their normal routines, often involvin a variety and excess of substances.

Edited May 3, 2009 by lubbkis

[onni4me]

This is perhaps one reason the Thais so proudly call their country "Amazing Thailand". I had a very similar encounter with a current on an escorted snorkeling tour off Phuket 15 years ago. So called tour guides in Thailand seem not to unerstand the risks they put their customers into. It's also a fact that a lot of tourists on holiday enter into practices that are not part of their normal routines, often involvin a variety and excess of substances.

I have been amazed that first we see these people thinking that it has to have something to do with drugs or criminals or some sort of shady behavior. At least he is equal now as said in the movie 'Barry Lyndon'.. I can't understand how easily some people throw their attitudes. If I would suspect them of similar things, wouldn't they be offended?

I have not been convicted, don't have tattoos (have been thinking about it) and I simply feel sorry for unnecessary loss of life. Don't you all?

And the fact is that there are so many shortcomings considering safety issues that it would really make a nice 'loss of face' if the Thais could realize that. But they won't. More of this kind of stories and some might think to change their holiday destination.

I have had a boat all my life and not always everything has gone the safe way. Nature - and sea especially - are very unpredictable. So many don't get this through their thick skulls. It's fun when the sun is shining and everything goes well but it doesn't always.

I haven't a clue whether this accident was self-inflected or not but wouldn't be amazed if there was some safety issues involved.

Drink, fun and the sea are not always best mixed, only stirred.

[LivinginKata]

So, just into page 4 and this topic is already going wildly off course.

Keep to the topic folks. Go back to the start and measure your responses with the OT.

[MaiChai]

Commiserations to the guy with the green trousers. It does sound like he was out swimming or something like that. Lets not speculate too much until more information is available.

Thailand is definitely more dangerous than Blighty. Would you prefer you boring safe life over there or your exciting and more dangerous life in LOS? I would say my chances of dying are much higher now since I bike everywhere round Bangkok, even though I try and minimise the risks. I guess its a balancing act and ultimately my choice? I have survived here 15 years without death and I guess I am over the initial learning curve where I would be at greater danger?

[crudy21]

RIP to the poor guy.

On a side note i have tattoo's and shaved head and im British, everyone who knows me think im a lovely geezer!

[Imkah]

My heart goes out to the family who shortly will be notified that their son, father, brother - whatever is gone.

And I find it a bit disturbing that so many expats suspect a violent death! Take a look around: a lot of maybe especially Northern Europeans and North-Americans do not travel very well. On our first visit to the East we carry a lot of good intentions but very little knowledge of the culture we are about to meet. The majority of us are men, 25 - 60, mostly single, looking for "a good time", be it sex, drugs or both. Obviously with an agenda like this many will die, and most deaths self-inflicted. I hope this is not the case with this so far unknown man, so that his family will be able to rest assured that he died a normal death. Maybe apart from Brits who suffer very cold coastal waters, it is actually quite normal in coastal countries to die by drowning. May he Rest In Peace.

[animatic]

One would have hoped this thread lead to a dissemination of his description

around Thailand and abroad and a faster identification of his remains.

Guess not.

[brahmburgers]

I had just had a shower and stepped out of the hong nam into my bedroom when the whole structure shook to its foundations and a massive crash rang out. On investigation I discoverd a coconunt bigger than a football on the shower floor - right at the spot that I was showering at less than a minute before. It had come crashing through the roof from the tree above my bungalow! There by the grace of God... and all that!

Wow, your coconut came close to inflicting damage to the perfectly good coconut which fell from the tree.

.....sorry, just had to make an attempt at mirth.

Reminds me of a line from a Steve Martin movie, where he's trying to seduce a gal half his age. She says, "I love Smashing Pumpkins." Right away, Steve's character enthuses; "Wow, so do I!"

And yes, it would be appreciated if we could hear some added details on the poor bloke you lost his life in the sea. Sounds to me like he drowned (rather than foul play). RIP, Mr. Greenjeans, and condolences to his loved ones.

[PoorSucker]

One would have hoped this thread lead to a dissemination of his description

around Thailand and abroad and a faster identification of his remains.

Guess not.

Second that.

Why discuss crime rates, can we help to identify the guy to help his family?

Start a new topic in the General forum discussing crime rates Thailand-UK_US.

[sbk]

Agreed. All off topic posts have been deleted. All replies to off topic posts have been deleted.

A man has died, lets do try to show some consideration for his friends and family as they could very well be looking for information on him and find this thread. Endless pointless speculation based on zero facts is not helpful.

[robenroute]

Only one statistic is accurate and beyond doubt.

Living causes Death

Get over that and get back on with what you have left.

Just to be slightly more accurate: as long as there are people alive, one cannot prove all people will die, or that living causes death. Fair enough, the odds are such that it seems to be the case, but still...

Personally, I'm not expecting to live beyond 104, but that's just me being pessimistic

P.S. I feel sorry for the bloke and especially for the ones he leaves behind.

Edited May 3, 2009 by robenroute

[baht&sold]

To sum up:

The desired hits were evidentially achieved, many members got their 'pound of flesh', thus all in all yet another 'success'.

To the victims (a sub-note?) whom comprise the tragically deceased man, his family and his loved one's (plus a 'few' with actual sympathy and humanity) may they all yet find a sense of DECENCY, peace and closure.

[oncebitten]

Why is he now suddenly a Brit? Did anyone ask him? Or maybe OberK~ and Boycie are on the inside .... good one guys. Post Mortem time - student practice.

I was wondering the same thing, what automatically makes this guy a Brit? Lots of Canadians, Swedes, Germans, etc etc come here too.

May he rest in peace.

"Mother Heart" must have been written in English.

Whilst it does not make him a Brit... it does assume he of native English speaking descent

[gbt71fa]

Why is he now suddenly a Brit? Did anyone ask him? Or maybe OberK~ and Boycie are on the inside .... good one guys. Post Mortem time - student practice.

I was wondering the same thing, what automatically makes this guy a Brit? Lots of Canadians, Swedes, Germans, etc etc come here too.

May he rest in peace.

"Mother Heart" must have been written in English.

Whilst it does not make him a Brit... it does assume he of native English speaking descent

Mother Heart...Scott or Irishmen possibly?

[animatic]

Why is he now suddenly a Brit? Did anyone ask him? Or maybe OberK~ and Boycie are on the inside .... good one guys. Post Mortem time - student practice.

I was wondering the same thing, what automatically makes this guy a Brit? Lots of Canadians, Swedes, Germans, etc etc come here too.

May he rest in peace.

"Mother Heart" must have been written in English.

Whilst it does not make him a Brit... it does assume he of native English speaking descent

Mother Heart...Scott or Irishmen possibly?

Seen that tatoo in America also at least we can figure he was an Anglo of some flavor.

Hope they find his identity soon.

[thetitan99]

It's odd that they have not released a statement as to the cause of death...

[Burr]

Has there ever been any information about who he was and maybe what happened?