A British tourist who disappeared during a family holiday in Thailand has been tragically found dead in a storm drain.
Fraser Wright, 37, from Swindon, was discovered in an open sewer on Phuket island on Wednesday morning, hours after reportedly going out to drink alone.
His family raised the alarm when he failed to return to the Seaview Hotel after leaving at around 10 pm on Tuesday.
Emergency services recovered Mr Wright’s body at 9:30 am near the Tawan Bike Shop in Patong. CCTV footage reportedly showed him peering into the storm drain, which channels rainwater to the sea, before climbing over a one-metre-high barrier and falling in.
Local authorities believe Mr Wright had been dead for five to six hours before he was found. An autopsy conducted at Vachira Phuket Hospital revealed no additional injuries, and there is no indication of foul play, according to local media outlet Khasod.
The UK Foreign Office released a statement confirming their involvement: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and is in contact with the local authorities.”
Mr Wright’s death is the latest in a series of tragedies involving British tourists in Thailand. In April, Ryan Ralph, 24, died after falling from an overnight train while travelling with his girlfriend, Shona Morgan.
Mr Ralph reportedly fell onto the tracks while stepping between carriages to smoke, prompting a major search before his body was found.
Thailand, a popular destination for international tourists, welcomed over 28 million visitors last year, generating 1.2 trillion baht (£28.2 billion). However, concerns about tourist safety persist as incidents involving foreign visitors continue to make headlines.
