21-11-2024 (PHUKET) A holiday in Thailand ended in tragedy when a 36-year-old British tourist was discovered deceased in a storm drain in Phuket’s Kathu district, local authorities have confirmed.
Fraser Wright, from Swindon, was found unresponsive in a cordoned-off drainage channel along Phra Metta Road, opposite Patong Hospital, early Wednesday morning. Emergency services recovered his body at approximately 9:15am.
Post-mortem examination results indicate Wright succumbed to suffocation, with the time of death estimated between five and six hours prior to discovery. Medical examiners found no evidence of physical trauma or foul play.
Surveillance footage from the area has shed light on the circumstances leading to the incident. The recordings show Wright approaching the maintenance site, where he was seen briefly leaning against the metre-high protective barrier surrounding the drainage system, which channels rainwater to the sea. The footage then captures him climbing over the security fence before losing his footing and falling into the drain.
According to family members, Wright had arrived on the island just three days earlier, accompanied by two relatives, and was staying at a local hotel. He was last seen leaving his accommodation around 10pm on Tuesday evening. Concerns were raised when he failed to return and attempts to contact him proved unsuccessful.
The British Embassy has been notified of the incident and is providing consular assistance to the deceased’s family. Local authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, though initial findings suggest it was a tragic accident.
