The Dead Farang Thread

Veteran CBC broadcaster dies snorkeling

PHUKET: Veteran Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcaster Lorne Saxberg died on Saturday while snorkeling with friends off Koh Khai, Phang Nga. The 48-year-old Ontarian had been holidaying in Phuket.

An officer from Phuket City Police Station told the Gazette, “We received a report at about 4 pm on Saturday that a man had died while swimming in Phang Nga Province. Volunteers from the Kusoldharm Foundation went to recover the body from Rassada Port [where it had been taken by Mr Saxberg’s friends].

“We are not yet sure of the cause of death,” the officer said. “He had had an operation on his heart seven years ago, but we are uncertain if that is connected to the incident. Another possible cause is an attack of cramp while swimming,” he speculated, adding that a postmortem would be carried out at Vachira Phuket Hospital to establish the cause of death.

Mr Saxberg worked at CBC for 27 years. In 1989 he became an anchorman on CBC’s rolling-news channel Newsworld. Recently he had been working for NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) where he received an Edward R. Murrow Award for Hiroshima 60 years later, a program he both wrote and presented.

phuket gazette

Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Saxberg body sent to Bangkok for autopsy

PHUKET: The body of Canadian Lorne Saxberg, who apparently drowned on Saturday while snorkeling off Koh Khai, in Phang Nga Bay, was sent to Bangkok today for forensic tests to determine what caused his death.

An officer of the Phuket Police Station, who spoke to the Gazette on condition of anonymity, said, “We have yet to receive the results of the autopsy by doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

“Mr Saxberg’s family have now requested that his body be sent to the Central Institute of Forensic Science in Bangkok.

“His family are still waiting for the autopsy results. They need to know the real reason why he died. I think we will know the reason soon,” he added.

The officer added that police believe Mr Saxberg died of either heart failure, as he had had a heart operation seven years ago, or drowned after suffering cramp while snorkeling.

Mr Saxberg, 48, was a veteran CBC broadcaster and was on vacation in Phuket when he died.

phuket gazette

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Friday 12th May 2006

English Man’s apparent suicide in Central Pattaya.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Omsin from Pattaya Police Station was called to house number 241/54 in Central Pattaya to investigate an apparent suicide of an English National. Inside the master bedroom was the body of Mr. Nicholas John Rabet aged 54 from Jersey in the UK. A plastic bag had been taped around his head and he had apparently handcuffed his hands to his leg. Near the body was a suicide note which read “Sorry I have to leave like this but it is the only way to escape the stress of my life. Thank you to everyone who has tried to help me through it, but this seems to be my only way out, signed Nick”. What is known about Mr. Rabet is that he is out on bail concerning a charge of sex with a minor under the age of 15. He was due to appear in court on 29th of this month. According to his friends, this case caused Mr. Rabet to become stressed and severely depressed which is thought to have lead to this desperate act. Police believe that a third party was not involved in this case and it was indeed a suicide and not murder, however a post mortem examination and other forensic tests are underway to confirm that suicide was the cause of death and he was not murdered. The British Embassy in Bangkok are also in close contact with the Police at this time and we understand that Mr. Rabet’s family back in the UK have been informed of his passing.

Police ponder murder of Steven Parkinson https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif Printer friendly versionhttps://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gifSend to a friendPosted by Admin / 15. May 2006, 00:08 No final decision on whether random or not Regional police commander lieutenant general Jongrat Jutanont has stated that inquiries are continuing into the brutal murder of 47 year old British expat Steven Parkinson who was shot to death in Pong subdistrict, three kilometres from Sukhumvit Road. He and a girl friend, Khun Sujira who works in the hospitality industry on Walking Street, faced an ambush as they returned to Mr Parkinson’s Mabprachan home.

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Four men approached on two motorbikes and fired four shots, two of which hit the victim in the face causing instant oblivion. Khun Sujira was spared after pleading for her life and the miscreants escaped with around 20,000 baht in cash and valuables. Police lieutenant general Jongrat gave an initial judgment that this could have been a random killing of the type which by no means unknown in the Pattaya area. However, a number of concerns are being addressed by the ongoing police inquiry. If the killing was random it’s unusual for four armed men on two motorcycles to be lying in wait as they couldn’t know who, if anyone, would be coming along at 3.30 a.m. in the morning and whether they would be worth robbing. Moreover, Mr Parkinson had had violent arguments with Thais in the past. A Pattaya Mail report of November 2004 stated that two young men had attempted to steal jewelry from him and that he had successfully struck out at them in a retaliatory attack. Given that Mr Parkinson owned property here, and was in process of clinching a land deal, police are also keen to investigate if he had any business associates who may have wished him ill. The expat’s regular girlfriend Khun Siripon, aged 24, told police she had moved into an hotel some days prior to the incident after a quarrel. But she was unable to shed any light on financial problems which might have been the basis of a conspiracy by parties unknown to murder him. Banglamung police have announced that they have interviewed a man for carrying a gun of the same calibre as that which killed Mr Parkinson. However, there is no other evidence to tie him in with the murder. In another development, police arrested a man in Sattahip for robbery. The man’s sister has claimed that he had boasted about committing a recent murder but, again, no collaborating evidence. Official investigations are continuing. Mr Parkinson’s body is to be cremated in Pattaya at the family’s request. The killing has fuelled British media claims that Thailand in general, and Pattaya in particular, has too much serious crime for comfort. Last January, a British woman from Liverpool was savagely raped in Jomtien, but police quickly cleared up the case and the Thai defendant, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 15 years at Chonburi provincial court.

by Somporn Pungsuk

pattayatoday.net

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Aussie found dead


8th may:Australian man found dead in hotel room
On May 7th at 4.00pm, Pattaya Police got a call from staff of the New BR Inn Hotel on Soi 12, off Beach Road, that an Australian national had been found dead in room number 002.
They went to the hotel and found a Mr. Gerald Jobbins, aged 74, dead and laying face down on his bed. Police turned the deceased over and there was no sign of a struggle and no injuries were evident to his person.
A bottle of medication for a heart condition was next to the bed. On questioning staff, Police were told that Mr. Jobbins had checked in on the 5th of May and he appeared to be unwell. He was quiet and walked around very slowly.
The maid who was doing the daily cleaning on his floor noticed an unpleasant smell emitting from the room alerted her suspicions.
Authorities determine that he had been dead for 10 hours.
His body was taken by the Sawang Boriboon to Bangkok to establish the exact cause of death. The Australian Embassy will be notified.

pattayapeople.com

They top themselves up here too.

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English teacher found dead in Chiangmai

Preeyanoot Jittawong
The body of Alastair Milmael Howell, 28, an Englishman in Chiang Mai working as an English teacher was found in his apartment in Chiang Mai. He had been dead for three days, judging by the stage of decomposition, according to police. A syringe was found hanging out of his right arm. There was a glass of water on the table, which was heroin stained; and four more syringes were also discovered. There were no signs of any foul play in the room.
Police learned from the apartment staff that the man had rented that room since March 13, 2006. He usually went out every day and returned the same night, until recently on May 10, 2006 which was the last time the staff-member had seen him alive. Later, a friend of the deceased, who lived in a nearby apartment, smelled the odor of decay coming from the man’s room. She knocked on his door but receiving no response, she used the reserve key to get into the room and found the corpse. Police officers assume that he had injected too much heroin, which caused him to go into shock and die. However, the body was sent for post-mortem examination at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, to ascertain the cause of death.

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I bet his friend feels great today. Poor girl.

Phuket-based TV correspondent dies

SURAT THANI: Phuket-based TV correspondent Colin Hillis died on Saturday after a seizure and fall while walking to the Koh Samui ferry in Don Sak. He was 41.

The Scottish-born reporter worked with Lanarkshire Television as anchor on its nightly magazine program Live@6 and was also a newscaster for the station between 1999 and 2001.

Earlier in his career, he was assistant director on the 1994 six-part BBC drama series Taking over the Asylum, which won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for Best Series.

Before moving to Phuket five years ago, he worked as a presenter on various Scottish radio stations including Radio Clyde (Glasgow), Radio Forth (Edinburgh) Radio Borders (Galashiels) Central FM (Stirling) and West Sound Radio (Ayr/Dumfries), as well as BBC Radio.

Up to the time of his death he had worked with Bangkok-based Capital Television (CTV) for almost two years. During that time he also covered the tsunami for several international networks.

CTV Managing Director Les Nyerges said the whole team had been “shocked and saddened” by Mr Hillis’s sudden death. “He was a focused and hardworking person,” Mr Nyerges added. “We will greatly miss his enthusiasm, strength and insight.”


Phuket Gazette

backpacker dies in ThailandA Londonderry family have been left stunned by the death of their son just a day after he called from Thailand to tell them that he was unwell.
It is understood that Christopher Gallagher, 23, from Shantallow had contracted a very severe form of malaria, despite taking anti-malarial drugs and being innoculated before the trip.
Mr Gallagher had been on a backpacking holiday following his graduation from university.
He had called his parents on Friday to tell them that he was ill. But on Saturday the family were shocked to receive the news that he had died.
His parents told the BBC that they thought their son knew he was seriously ill when he phoned them. But they knew that he had taken medical advice before he left on the trip and thought that he was protected.

Tragic Chris said goodbye in final call
We knew he was dying, say parents of Derry malaria victim
By Sarah Brett
22 May 2006 The heartbroken family of a young Londonderry man who died in Thailand from a deadly strain of malaria today expressed the overwhelming love and pride they felt for him.
Christopher Gallagher (23), from Liscloon Drive in the Shantallow area, contracted a deadly strain of the virus while fulfilling his life's ambition to travel the world.
The virus gripped the Queen's University graduate around a week ago, just a couple of weeks before he'd planned to return home from his gap-year style trek.
Christopher had been taking a course of anti-malarial drugs before and during his trip, but doctors revealed that they were useless against the virulent strain he picked up after being bitten by a mosquito, probably during a visit to the Burmese jungle.
He spoke to his devoted parents Martin and Mary from a Thai hospital less than 24 hours before his death - by the end of the conversation they say they knew their son was dying.
Fighting back tears today, Mr Gallagher told the North West Telegraph: "He was saying goodbye."
Christopher was an English Literature graduate from Queen's University and a former St Columb's College student. He was considering a career in journalism on his return home. He died from organ failure brought on by two strains of the malaria virus.
"He said while he was away that he would be living with us for a while when he got home, getting a job and paying us back for the trip and university," Mary said.
"I joked with him that he could never manage it but I know he would have tried.
"I remember he wanted to go away before university but I managed to persuade him not to. But he was so determined, it was his dream, he loved other cultures and new people.
"One of the last things he said to me was that he didn't regret a moment of his travels.
"It was heartbreaking that we weren't there holding his hand, the only thing that's keeping me together is human contact.
"All our friends, family and neighbours have been amazing, as have the Embassy, the insurance people and the PSNI.
"He told me in his last phone call not to lose it if he didn't make it, but I thought he might be exaggerating - a few hours later I realised he wasn't joking and then of course I did lose it."
The Gallagher family, including their other son, also Martin, today revealed the depth of their love for their "brilliant" son.
"He was a bit of a genius really," said his brother Martin. "Academically and artistically in particular. We were very close."
Christopher's wide circle of friends came to the family home to show their love and support last night, while his family endured a desperate wait to discover when his body can be repatriated.

That's one of the more tragic stories I've read for a while.

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Thursday 25th May 2006

English man found dead inside his Jomtien Apartment.
Police from the Dongtan sub-station based on Jomtien each were called to the Hagonee Condominium Block on the Tepprasit Road in Jomtien on Thursday Morning to investigate the death of a foreign man at the location. Room number 605/80 on the 4th Floor is occupied by Mr. Michael John Stiles aged 58 from Sutton Colofield in England. Police checked the room and the body of Mr. Stiles and found nothing to suggest anything suspicious. The man was estimated to have passed away 2 to 3 hours before he was found and the presence of medication inside the room suggested to Police that the man was suffering from some form of illness which may have claimed his life. For now, the exact cause of death is unknown and a post mortem examination is now underway. The British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed of the death.

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Tuesday 30th May 2006

Suspected drugs overdose blamed for death of an American in Hotel.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Tirasak from Pattaya Police Station was called to the Dynasty Inn Hotel in Soi 13, South Pattaya at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon after hotel staff made a gruesome discovery in room number 314 on 3rd Floor. The room was occupied by Mr. Douglas Rockness aged 44 from Washington DC in the USA. He had arrived at the hotel on 28th May and on Tuesday afternoon, the hotel cleaners found him lying on his bed surrounded by narcotics and there was no sign of life. Next to the bed was a quantity of what Police believe to be Heroin. A syringe and a spoon containing a small quantity of the drug were found along with four Viagra Tablets. Hotel staff confirmed that the man stayed alone and Police tell us that there was no indication of third party involvement in his death. A post mortem examination is now underway which is expected to confirm the Police theory that the man ingested a lethal combination of Viagra and Heroin.

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Tuesday 30th May 2006

70 year old American dies in his home after a visit from a friend.
Police Sub-Lieutenant Jirasak from Banglamung Police Station was called to house number 302 in Nongprue to investigate the death of an American man at the location. At the scene, Police inspected the body of Mr. Ken Rangbow aged 70 from America. He was found naked on his sofa and appeared to have died only minutes before Police arrived. Also inside the house was Khun Dalin aged 47 who mentioned to Police that she arrived at the house at 12.30pm on Tuesday afternoon after receiving a call from Mr. Rangbow. The two engaged in sexual activities and moments later Mr. Rangbow began gasping for air and then fell silent. Mr. Rangbow is married to Khun Boonpeng who is currently visiting family in another province. An inspection of the room was made and a full inspection of the body was undertaken and no evidence of foul play could be found. Police expect the post mortem results to show the man died of a heart attack. The American Embassy has been informed of the case and are working closely with Police.

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

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Tuesday 30th May 2006

Suspected drugs overdose blamed for death of an American in Hotel.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Tirasak from Pattaya Police Station was called to the Dynasty Inn Hotel in Soi 13, South Pattaya at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon after hotel staff made a gruesome discovery in room number 314 on 3rd Floor. The room was occupied by Mr. Douglas Rockness aged 44 from Washington DC in the USA. He had arrived at the hotel on 28th May and on Tuesday afternoon, the hotel cleaners found him lying on his bed surrounded by narcotics and there was no sign of life. Next to the bed was a quantity of what Police believe to be Heroin. A syringe and a spoon containing a small quantity of the drug were found along with four Viagra Tablets. Hotel staff confirmed that the man stayed alone and Police tell us that there was no indication of third party involvement in his death.

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What about a second party involvement.......?:confused:

Swiss man found dead in pickup

CHALONG: A Swiss man was found dead in the driver’s seat of his pickup truck on Chao Fa East Rd on Monday. The 63-year-old man, identified by police as Johann Kupreest, was discovered slumped at the wheel with the engine off and the windows and doors locked.

Local residents noticed the unconscious Mr Kupreest and tried to assist him, but were unable to rouse the man or open the truck’s doors and so called the police.

Police officers accompanied by volunteers from Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation went to the scene and banged on the door of the truck. When there was still no response from inside they broke the window and found that the man was already dead.

Pol Maj Pheeranat Chatinkaew, Administration and Crime Control Inspector of Chalong Police Station, said, “We suspect that lack of air and high temperature in the car caused Mr Kupreest to have a heart attack.”

The identity of Mr Kupreest was confirmed at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The exact cause of death is expected to be announced in two to three days after an autopsy has been performed.

phuket gazette

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Thursday 1st June 2006

Important update on last month’s murder of an English man in Pong sub-district.
An important update now on the murder of Mr. Steven Parkinson aged 47 from England which took place in Pong Sub-district in the early hours of 3rd May. He was shot by a gang of four men in what appeared to be a random shooting.
On Thursday afternoon, Police Colonel Nopadon, the Chief of Banglamung Police Station conducted a press conference at the Station attended by friends of Mr. Parkinson who heard that two of the four men allegedly involved in the shooting had been arrested. Also on display was the murder weapon itself along with a mobile phone which had been stolen from Mr. Parkinson as he lay dead on the road. The Colonel announced that Khun Pongnara aged 18 and Khun Sontaya aged 20 had been detained. Khun Sontaya admitted to shooting Mr. Parkinson. Two other men have yet to be located but are believed to be part of the four man gang, they are Khun Wirayoot aged 20 and Khun Prasertsuk aged 22. The two arrested individuals mentioned that the robbery was not preplanned but was an opportunity to steal which presented itself to the four men. Khun Sontaya pointed the firearm at Mr. Parkinson who apparently failed to stop after being told to do so. It was at this point that the firearm was expelled and Mr. Parkinson was killed. However the killer confirmed that the killing was not pre-planned. The two arrested men are now facing charges of murder and conspiracy to murder and are now on remand awaiting a court appearance. We understand that the family of Mr. Parkinson in England has already been told of the arrests.

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Friday 2nd June 2006

Chilling reconstruction of the Steven Parkinson murder.
A further update now on last month’s murder of Mr. Steven Parkinson from Hull in England. We begin with news from Banglamung Police Station who have arrested the third member of the four man gang who were involved in the murder. Khun Verayut aged 20 gave himself up to Police and is now in custody.
On Friday Morning, Police Major General Rapipat, the Deputy Commander of Police for Region 2 oversaw a chilling reconstruction of the crime. Both the shooter, Khun Sontaya aged 21 and Khun Pongnara aged 17 took part and demonstrated to Police how they approached the victim and shothim after he refused to comply with their instructions to hand over money and valuables. Further information about the four man gang is also coming to light and it appears that they have committed a number of armed robberies around the Pong sub-district area and in two of the cases, Khun Sontaya murdered the victims. The two arrested men claimed they undertook the robberies because it was fun and made them a significant sum of cash. In the cases where they murdered their victims they claimed that they were forced into it by the non-compliance of the victims.
The fourth member of the gang, Khun Prasertsak aged 21 is still on the run but Police are confident he will be located and arrested soon.

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

because it was fun

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

In the cases where they murdered their victims they claimed that they were forced into it by the non-compliance of the victims.

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Seem like a nice bunch of Thai people don't they.

Bypass killers who terrorized a district are seized

Englishman was amongst victims of cold-blooded robbers

Boonlua Chatree
A gang of highway robbers who shot and killed victims who were uncooperative has been broken up by a combined investigation by police from Banglamung, Sriracha and Chonburi.
The recent murder of an Englishman in the Pong sub-district led to an intensive manhunt that netted three youths, and police are currently in pursuit of a fourth man.
Pol Lt Gen Rapeephat Palawong, deputy Region 2 police commander said that two of the gang members, 21-year-old Sontaya Srichoke and a 17-year-old who can be identified only by the alias of Bik, were seized and found to be in possession of a loaded 9 mm pistol used in the shootings. A third man, Weerawut Pradittham, 20, turned himself in at Banglamung precinct along with .38 caliber pistol. This leaves one member of the gang at large, identified as Prasertsak Boonkrajang, and police are confident of finding him.
Dubbed the “Bypass Gang”, the robbers had spread terror amongst residents in the Pong and route 331 sub-districts.
One of the victims was Englishman Steven Parkinson, 47, who was murdered on his way home after a night out in Pattaya. The gang made off with one baht weight in gold.
On June 2 Banglamung police brought the two suspects to the site where Parkinson had been shot so they could re-enact the crime. Both men admitted their part in the killing with two other gang members. The re-enactment drew a large crowd of onlookers, many of them residents. Police security was tight for fear of the crowd turning on the cold-blooded killers, both of whom were arrested in Sriracha.
Sontaya said he shot the Englishman after he failed to pull over as he was ordered.
The gang was also responsible for the killing of two other people and numerous other armed robberies, each time dividing their ill-gotten spoils for more fun out on the town.
“The callousness of these people, at such a young age, is shocking,” said Pol Lt Gen Rapeephat. “Their mode of operation was quick and they shot anybody who failed to give in to their demands.”
All face long jail sentences for their actions. Police have been applauded for their swift action in closing the casebook on three murders in under six weeks.

pattaya mail

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Friday 9th June 2006

German national found dead inside his Central Pattaya Apartment.
Police Lieutenant Aneewat from Pattaya Police Station made his way to Room number 215 at the Sutut Court in Soi Beokeow, Central Pattaya after cleaners entered the room on Thursday Evening after the man who occupied the room failed to answer the door. Staff initially thought that he had left the room without settling his rent. Using a spare key, staff entered the room and found the naked man lying dead on the balcony next to an Air-conditioner compressor unit. The body of Mr. Rudi Kurt Vieth aged 62 from Germany was checked and no signs of trauma could be found and nothing inside the room aroused suspicion. Medication for high blood pressure and bowel complaints were found. Police theorize the man became ill and passed away. A post mortem examination is expected to support this theory. The German Embassy in Bangkok has been informed.

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Saturday 10th June 2006

85 Year old American woman passes-away in a South Pattaya Guest House.
Police were called to the Hogs Breath Saloon in Soi Batman, South Pattaya on Saturday afternoon to investigate the death of an American National at the location. Police inspected the body of Mrs. Della Edelman aged 85. She was discovered by guest house cleaners. A routine check of the body and room were made and nothing suspicious was found. Medication for high blood pressure was found and Police suspect she died of natural causes. The American Embassy in Bangkok has been informed who will inform the woman’s family back in Idaho in the USA.

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

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Saturday 10th June 2006

85 Year old American woman passes-away in a South Pattaya Guest House.
Police were called to the Hogs Breath Saloon in Soi Batman, South Pattaya on Saturday afternoon to investigate the death of an American National at the location. Police inspected the body of Mrs. Della Edelman aged 85. She was discovered by guest house cleaners. A routine check of the body and room were made and nothing suspicious was found. Medication for high blood pressure was found and Police suspect she died of natural causes. The American Embassy in Bangkok has been informed who will inform the woman’s family back in Idaho in the USA.

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What the heck was a 85 year old woman doing in that part of town?

Irish man falls to death from Bangkok hotel
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A tourist from Northern Ireland fell from the 16th floor of a hotel in Bangkok's Hua Mark area to his death Saturday morning, police said.

The tourist was identified as Lawrence Nicholas Stuart, 26.

Police said he checked into the Alexander Hotel Friday but was found dead near the swimming pool on the fifth floor at 7 am. He was staying on the 16th floor.

The Nation

Tsunami volunteer English teacher drowns in Phuket PHUKET, June 25 (TNA) - The body of a 20-year-old American woman who drowned Saturday while swimming during a heavy rainstorm with three friends has been found off the island resort's main city beach by Navy personnel.
Officials found the body of volunteer English teacher Elena Baldwin not far from where she drowned only hours after the accident took place Saturday afternoon.

A senior Royal Thai Navy officer said Ms. Baldwin and three friends were reported to have gone swimming here in this southern resort despite a warning by lifeguards at the beach against going into the water as there was a heavy rainstorm at the time.

One of the three survivors was being treated at a Phuket hospital, the officer said.

All four are volunteers teaching English to tsunami victims at a school in nearby Phangnga province, he said. (TNA)-E111

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