Another Aussie traveller found dead in Thailand

A 41-year-old Australian man from South Australia has been found dead in the waters off Freedom Beach in Phuket, three days after he was reported missing by his wife while on holiday.

According to Thai authorities, the man was last seen on May 7, prompting a search effort after his disappearance. His body was discovered on the morning of May 10 by the chief lifeguard during a routine patrol. The lifeguard spotted the body drifting about 20 metres from the shore amid strong surf conditions.

Officers from Karon Police Station responded to the call and retrieved the body using ropes due to the rough seas. The man was found wearing only black underpants, and emergency responders pulled him to shore for formal identification.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wiwat Chamnankit confirmed that the man had been in Thailand since April 20. He told local outlet Asia Pacific Press that the victim’s family has been notified.

“We believe that the sea currents were too strong for him to swim back to land,” Lt. Col. Chamnankit said. “Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide.”

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The body has been transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. 

This incident marks the second death of an Australian tourist in Thailand within the past week. On May 3, 22-year-old Melbourne man Corey Walsh died after jumping from a tour boat near the popular snorkelling area of Koh Racha Yai. Authorities said he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol before repeatedly entering the water.

Walsh was pulled from the sea unconscious and unresponsive. Despite efforts by tour conductors and emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at Chalong Hospital. No illegal substances were found on board, though empty alcohol bottles were recovered.

These back-to-back tragedies come after the drowning of Chinese tourist Zhang Xiaohan, 30, who was scuba diving near Kabakan Island in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. She was swept away by strong currents while attempting to retrieve her GoPro camera. Her body was later found 88 metres underwater, near a known diving route.

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Image: Asia Pacific Press