Brit woman, 36, died on holiday in Thailand after ‘accidentally taking lethal cocktail of drugs with her boyfriend'

Scottish Sun

27-05-2025

TRAGIC END Brit woman, 36, died on holiday in Thailand after 'accidentally taking lethal cocktail of drugs with her boyfriend'
A BRIT woman died on holiday in Thailand after accidentally taking a lethal cocktail of drugs with her boyfriend, an inquest heard.
Rebecca Turner, 36, was discovered lying on her side near the bathroom in her hotel room in Bangkok.
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Rebecca Turner died on holiday in Thailand
Credit: SWNS
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Her mum Anita has spoken out to warn others
Credit: SWNS
Her boyfriend Sam Melnick, 32, was found dead on the bed during the double tragedy in March last year.
An inquest heard the pair believed they were taking a line of cocaine but the powder actually contained a lethal mix of medication.
Rebecca's devastated mum has now warned other travellers to stay away from street drugs while travelling in Thailand.
Anita Turner, 64, from Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, said: "It's so, so dangerous out there. There are loads of drug deaths all the time. It's shocking.
"I would warn people to stay away from recreational drugs out there because you simply don't know what's in it."
The mum also slammed cops in Thailand and claimed the drugs were bought from a pusher just yards from a police station.
Anita added: "There have been multiple deaths on that one road. Loads of people have died and yet the Thai police don't want to know.
"I'm absolutely heartbroken. It's been devastating for the whole family. I wanted to warn people going out there not to buy drugs. It's too dangerous."
East Sussex Coroners' Court heard Rebecca had been travelling in Thailand to celebrate a friend's wedding.
She checked into the Khaosan Palace Hotel on March 12 with Sam and was due to check out four days later.
On March 15, Rebecca messaged a friend saying she had bought cocaine but was not heard from again - prompting a pal to raise the alarm.
The court heard hotel staff made several calls to the hotel room but received no answer so used a key card to gain entry.
They discovered the couple dead with a clear plastic ziplock bag also found nearby.
White powder was also found on the sink that Thai police later determined to be heroin.
But toxicology carried out by UK medics after Rebecca's body was flown back to the UK showed a complex mix of drugs.
These included morphine, monoacetylmorphine, noscapine, diazepam, codeine and trazodone.
The hearing was told Rebecca had a history of drug and alcohol misuse, depression and anxiety.
But she had previously spent four years in Laos, which she described as her second home, and was looking forward to travelling.
Coroner Laura Bradford ruled out suicide and instead recorded a conclusion of drug-related death.
Last year, six tourists - including a British lawyer - died in Laos after drinking vodka laced with deadly methanol.
Trainee solicitor Simone White, 28, was among the group who consumed vodka at the £6-a-night Nana Backpacker Hostel.
Just 4ml of methanol, a common by-product of home-brewed alcohol, can be lethal.
Rebecca's mum has since visited Thailand three times since her death and is planning to return so she can provide assistance for children in schools in Bangkok.
Anita said: "I want to go back and help the schools for the sake of Rebecca, to raise funds and equipment for them. It was something Rebecca really wanted to help with so I'm doing it for her as well.
"But most of all I just want to say: 'Please don't do drugs out there'.
"It's so dangerous and you don't know what is in it. It's just not worth it.
"Rebecca was a lovely, caring person. She was happy go lucky really and we loved her. We are absolutely heartbroken."
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Rebecca was travelling with her boyfriend at the time
Credit: SWNS