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News.com.au
12-05-2025
- News.com.au
41-year-old Australian tourist found dead off beach in Thailand
An Australian man has reportedly been pulled from the water, after going missing while on holiday in Thailand. The 41-year-old, reportedly from South Australia, was reported missing by his wife on May 7 in Phuket, according to local media. Three days later, authorities were alerted by the chief lifeguard at Freedom Beach, who had spotted a body drifting about 20 metres from the shoreline during his morning patrol. Upon arrival, officers from the Karon Police Station found the body floating motionless in the water, amid strong surf conditions. According to local media Asia Pacific Press, emergency responders used ropes to secure the deceased before carefully pulling the body onto the beach. Police said the man, who had come to Thailand on April 20, was found wearing only a pair of black underpants. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wiwat Chamnankit said in a statement to the outlet that the family of the victim 'have been informed that his body has been found'. 'We believe that the sea currents were too strong for him to swim back to land,' the officer added. 'Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide.' The 41-year-old's body was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where a formal autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation. has contacted the Department of ForeignAffairs and Trade for comment. The man's death comes as another Australian died while holidaying in Thailand. Last week it was reported that a 22-year-old Melbourne man had died while on a tour boat off the coast of Phuket. The man, identified as Corey Walsh, allegedly jumped from the vessel — which was anchored near the popular snorkelling spot of Koh Racha Yai. It is understood the tradesman, who had consumed alcohol, got into trouble in the water and was dragged under the surface. Tour conductors managed to drag Mr Walsh from the water, but he was unconscious and unresponsive, prompting a distress call for emergency services. CPR was performed on the boat before he was rushed to Chalong Hospital in Phuket where he was pronounced dead. A boat trip from the island of Koh Racha Yai typically takes 45 minutes to 1 hour and an additional 15 minutes in a car to arrive at Chalong Hospital. Police lieutenant colonel Kanen Somrak of Chalong Police Station told local media the victim was one of seven foreign tourists on board the tour boat. 'The victim had consumed a large amount of alcohol before entering the water. He was reportedly intoxicated and repeatedly jumped in and out of the sea before eventually drowning,' Mr Somrak said. 'No illegal substances were found at the scene. Only empty alcohol beverage bottles were discovered.' Both the death of the 41-year-old man at Freedom Beach and Mr Walsh follow the drowning of another tourist in Thailand — Chinese woman Zhang Xiaohan. The 30-year-old was scuba diving to admire the corals and marine life off the remote Kabakan Island in East Kalimantan on May 2, when the GoPro camera she was using slipped from her hands. Ms Xiaohan battled in the currents to retrieve the camera, but was washed away by fast-flowing currents. Rescue teams, the local marine search agency Basarnas and soldiers were dispatched to comb the sea around the island. After repeated diving attempts, the holidaymaker's body was found 88 metres below the surface, near the popular Kelapa Dua diving route, at 2.55pm on Saturday, May 3.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Daily Mail
An Aussie tourist was reported missing in Thailand… three days later a lifeguard made a grim discovery that has devastated his wife
An Aussie tourist who disappeared in Thailand has been found dead three days after he was reported missing. Anthony John Heathcote, 41, from Mount Gambier in South Australia, was discovered near Freedom Beach at Phuket, on Thailand 's west coast, on Saturday morning. He had been reported missing by his wife three days earlier after her failed to return from an outing. Police officers and rescue teams launched an official search for the Australian with a team of volunteers joining in. A chief lifeguard spotted his body drifting 20metres from the shore and alerted local authorities. Officials said the body showed no immediate signs of trauma and it is likely Mr Heathcote drowned. His body has been sent for a full autopsy at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Phuket authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Freedom Beach is a secluded spot known for its crystal-clear waters and is generally considered safe. The beach has limited access and relatively low tourist traffic compared to other beaches on the west coast. Officials have warned tourists to exercise caution while swimming off the shore especially during monsoon season. Mr Heathcote is the second Australian tourist to be found dead in Thailand in the past week after Melbourne roof plumber Corey Walsh, 22, drowned. Mr Walsh, who hailed from Frankston, was on a boat tour near Koh Racha Yai off the coast of Phuket when he dived into the sea while intoxicated on Tuesday. It is believed Mr Walsh was dragged underwater due to strong currents despite his efforts to stay afloat. The 22-year-old was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive, with tour conductors issuing a distress call for emergency services at about 2.28pm local time. Medics immediately administered CPR on Mr Walsh on the deck of the boat before rushing him to Chalong Hospital in Phuket where hospital staff pronounced him dead. A GoFundMe was set up to help the 22-year-old's family with funeral costs and any additional expenses. 'This is for a Corey, a young man who struck a-lot of people's hearts for being a kind, caring and just a beautiful soul,' it reads. 'From a stranger, to family, to friends, he seemed to put a smile on anyone's face. 'We would like to help the family by doing this fundraiser to show support and just how much love this man bought to this world. 'Our condolences go out to the Walsh family and just a massive thank you for bringing up this one of a kind gentleman.'
