Latest news with #Caola
7NEWS
20-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Perth man Michael Shane Caola found dead in Thailand apartment hours after Swedish man dies in same building
A Western Australian man has been found dead in a Thailand apartment, just two hours after a Swedish man died in the same building. Michael Shane Caola, a 54-year-old from Perth, was found face-down in a pool of blood in a seventh-floor room at the Grand Shivalay apartment in Pattaya about 4pm on Thursday. Upon arrival, police found broken glass and scattered pill bottles across the room, while the rubbish bin was filled with discarded medication containers and a scalp vein set box. Caola had a cut on his left elbow from the broken glass, but police said there were no immediate signs of a struggle, local media reported. The alarm was raised by Caola's relatives, who contacted the apartment manager, Thanchanok Prajit, after being unable to reach him by phone for two days. When Prajit checked the room, she found it locked from the inside, with a foul odour coming from within. She then unlocked the door and called the police. Prajit said Caola is a frequent customer and was often seen exercising. According to Caola's social media, he was a regular visitor to Thailand, often travelling with a woman believed to be his wife, Phatsaya Caola, who is thought to be Thai. The most recent post showing the pair in Pattaya was shared in January. An earlier post from December 15 showed Caola writing, 'Pattaya here we come again,' alongside a photo with Phatsaya. The couple have appeared in photos taken in Thailand dating back nearly a decade. Phatsaya posted a photo of the two on Facebook on Friday, writing: 'R.I.P Michael Shane,' accompanied by crying emojis. Police said the cause of Caola's death is still unknown, pending the autopsy results. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the department is providing consular assistance to the family of the Australian who died in Thailand. 'We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,' the spokesperson said. 'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.' Two hours before Caola's death was discovered, a Swedish national was found dead in a room two floors below in the same building. Mika Huotari, 38, was found naked in a bathtub with a head wound after a woman was seen leaving the room with a bag. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Kamjulla of the Pattaya City Police Station acknowledged the coincidence of the two deaths but said there was 'no established link' between them. 'Since they occurred in the same building within a short time frame, we're not ruling out any possibilities and will continue to investigate,' he said. Pattaya is a Thai coastal city long popular with tourists for its beaches and nightlife, including its adult entertainment scene.
Sky News AU
18-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Mystery surrounds death of Australian tourist Michael Caola in Thailand's Pattaya as police launch investigation
Thai police have launched an investigation after a 54-year-old Australian man was found dead inside his apartment in the coastal city of Pattaya. Michael Shane Caola, from Perth, was discovered on Thursday at the Grand Shivalay complex, a high-rise building located in the heart of the city, which has long been associated with its hedonistic nightlife and influx of foreign tourists. Concerned relatives in Australia contacted the apartment's front desk after failing to reach Mr Caola for two days. The building's manager, Thanchanok Prajit, raised the alarm with local authorities after being unable to access his room. 'His family in Australia called the reception, saying they had been unable to contact him,' she said. 'He was a regular customer often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health.' Responding officers found no immediate signs of foul play at the scene, but the circumstances surrounding Mr Caola's death remain unclear. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Kamjulla of Pattaya City Police confirmed that inquiries are ongoing 'The cause of the Australian man's death is still unknown and the results of the autopsy are pending," he said. 'The case is currently under investigation, and further details cannot be disclosed at this time.' In a separate and seemingly unrelated incident, Swedish national Mika Huotari, 38, was found dead in a bathtub in another apartment just two floors below Mr Caola's. Authorities say the two cases are not connected. Local media outlets report that Mr Huotari had a head injury and CCTV footage captured a woman leaving his room shortly before his body was discovered. Both incidents have raised fresh concerns about the safety of foreign visitors in Pattaya, which continues to draw large numbers of tourists despite its controversial reputation. Thai police say they are awaiting autopsy results before determining the cause of Mr Caola's death.
New York Post
18-07-2025
- New York Post
Tourist found dead in Thai ‘Sin City' apartment 2 hours after another man died in same complex
An Australian man has been found dead in an apartment in Pattaya, Thailand. Perth man Michael Shane Caola, 54, was discovered on Thursday in a room at the Grand Shivalay apartment complex in the Thai city nicknamed 'sin city'. Advertisement Police were called after Caola's relatives in Australia alerted staff that he had not answered his phone for two days. Officers found no sign of a struggle and an investigation is now underway. 6 Michael Shane Caola was found dead at the Grand Shivalay apartment complex in the Thai city nicknamed 'sin city'. ViralPress 6 Officers found no sign of a struggle and an investigation is now underway. Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress Advertisement Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Kamjulla of the Pattaya City Police Station said: 'The cause of the Australian man's death is still unknown and the results of the autopsy are pending. 6 Officers found no sign of a struggle. Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Advertisement 'The case is currently under investigation, and further details cannot be disclosed at this time.' Apartment manager Thanchanok Prajit called authorities after finding Mr Caola's door locked. 'His family in Australia called the reception, saying they had been unable to contact him,' she said. 6 'His family in Australia called the reception,' the apartment manager said. ViralPress 6 Caola with his wife. ViralPress Advertisement 6 Two hours earlier, Swedish tourist Mika Huotari was found in the bathtub two floors below. Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 'He was a regular customer often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health.' A Swedish tourist was found dead in the same apartment complex two hours earlier, however police do not suspect the deaths are related. Mika Huotari, 38, was found in the bathtub with a wound to his head two floors below Mr Caola's room. Local media reports a woman was seen on CCTV leaving Mr Huotari's room.
West Australian
18-07-2025
- West Australian
Michael Shane Caola: Perth man found facedown in pool of blood in Thailand apartment
A man from Perth has been found dead in an apartment in Thailand where he was discovered facedown in a pool of blood. The 54-year-old is believed to be Michael Shane Caola and was found on the seventh floor of the Grand Shivalay apartment in the beachside city of Pattaya in Thailand according to The Daily Mail. Pattaya City Police investigator, Saijai Khamjulla, confirmed that he received reports of the dead Australian at about 4pm local time on Thursday. When entering the room where Caola's body was, officers reportedly found broken glass and scattered pill bottles but couldn't see any signs of struggle. It was the apartment manager, Thanchanok Prajit, who discovered Caola's body after noticing a foul odour coming from his room. 'He was a regular customer, often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health,' she reportedly said. Shockingly, two hours earlier police discovered the body of a 38-year-old Swedish national in a separate room two floors below in the same building. The Swedish man was found naked near an overflowing bathtub with a one-inch laceration to his forehead and right eyebrow, local media outlet Khaosod reported. 'His case does not involve any woman, unlike the previous case involving a Swedish national who died in the same apartment on the same day,' he said. Caola's Facebook profile reveals a series of photos of him alongside young woman who could be from Thailand and there's also a photo of him at what seems to be his own wedding in April 2016. The beachside city of Pattaya, famous for its sex-for-sale wild nightlife and despite recent efforts to remediate the city's image, crime continues to make international headlines.
Perth Now
18-07-2025
- Perth Now
Perth man found facedown in pool of blood in Thai apartment
A man from Perth has been found dead in an apartment in Thailand where he was discovered facedown in a pool of blood. The 54-year-old is believed to be Michael Shane Caola and was found on the seventh floor of the Grand Shivalay apartment in the beachside city of Pattaya in Thailand according to The Daily Mail. Pattaya City Police investigator, Saijai Khamjulla, confirmed that he received reports of the dead Australian at about 4pm local time on Thursday. When entering the room where Caola's body was, officers reportedly found broken glass and scattered pill bottles but couldn't see any signs of struggle. It was the apartment manager, Thanchanok Prajit, who discovered Caola's body after noticing a foul odour coming from his room. Perth man Michael Shane Caola (left) was found dead in an apartment in Thailand. Credit: Facebook 'He was a regular customer, often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health,' she reportedly said. Shockingly, two hours earlier police discovered the body of a 38-year-old Swedish national in a separate room two floors below in the same building. The Swedish man was found naked near an overflowing bathtub with a one-inch laceration to his forehead and right eyebrow, local media outlet Khaosod reported. Caola shared a photo of him on Facebook at what seems to be his own wedding in April 2016. Credit: Facebook 'His case does not involve any woman, unlike the previous case involving a Swedish national who died in the same apartment on the same day,' he said. Caola's Facebook profile reveals a series of photos of him alongside young woman who could be from Thailand and there's also a photo of him at what seems to be his own wedding in April 2016. The beachside city of Pattaya, famous for its sex-for-sale wild nightlife and despite recent efforts to remediate the city's image, crime continues to make international headlines.
