Latest news with #RattachaiMuayThai
Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Young man from Melbourne remembered as 'beautiful soul' as two Aussie tourists drown in Thailand in space of a week
Two Australian tourists have drowned in Thailand in the space of a week with one young man being remembered by his sister as a 'beautiful soul'. Last Tuesday, Corey Walsh, 22, a roof plumber from Melbourne, was swimming near the island of Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket, when he was pulled under the water. His sister, Charleigh, spoke to and described her aspiring Muay Thai boxer brother as 'selfless and loyal'. In an interview, Corey's sister said he had been training in Thailand and was with six of his closest friends, one of which he travelled to the Asian nation to begin his strict regiment which began two weeks before his death. Corey had prepared since the start of the year for his four-week stint at the Rattachai Muay Thai camp. It is understood he had been sober for five months in the leadup to the intense training. According to The Daily Telegraph, the 22-year-old died swimming while intoxicated. Just three days before he drowned, the other five of his friends joined him to celebrate his progress on a chartered fishing trip. The precise circumstances surrounding Corey's death are still unclear. 'They were fishing on the boat and celebrating their trip when they stopped to have lunch and go for a snorkel,' Charleigh said. 'We're still waiting for his friends to get home to learn more about it. 'He will always be my best friend, his passing has left a void that cannot be filled.' Tributes poured in on social media with friends describing Corey as 'selfless' and a 'genuine and outgoing person' who could 'make everyone smile'. Thai authorities have warned tourists about dangerous sea conditions and 'strong waves' after a second Australian man was found floating in the water. A 41-year-old man from South Australia, Anthony John Heathcote, was reported missing by his wife on May 7, according to local news, and his body was found at Freedom Beach near Patong on Saturday. He was pulled from the water by emergency responders. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wiwat Chamnankit said it was likely he drowned while swimming. 'We believe that the sea currents were too strong for him to swim back to land,' he said. 'Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide.'
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘Selfless': Aussie tradie remembered after tragic death in Thailand
An aspiring Australian Muay Thai boxer had been celebrating with friends after an intense training camp when he tragically drowned while swimming off a fishing charter boat in Thailand. Melbourne roof plumber Corey Walsh, 22, was swimming near the tourist island of Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket, last Tuesday when he was dragged under the water. In an emotional interview with Mr Walsh's younger sister Charleigh described her brother as 'selfless and loyal', revealing he had been on a much-anticipated holiday with six of his closest friends. He had travelled there with one of the group members to complete intense training at the Rattachai Muay Thai camp, which they had been preparing for since January 1. His strict training regimen meant he had been completely sober for more than five months. Corey was due to spend four weeks in Thailand and had just completed the first two weeks of his trip before his tragic death. The other five friends had arrived just three days earlier and planned to celebrate his achievements with a chartered fishing trip. Charleigh said she had grown up 'side-by-side' with her older brother. 'We shared our whole childhood together. He was very caring and protective, as big brothers are,' she said. 'Corey would light up any room he walked into. He had a strong mindset and saw mistakes as growth. He will always be my best friend, his passing has left a void that cannot be filled, Charleigh said. 'There was an unspoken loyalty that survived every argument, it was stronger than anything. Nothing was stronger than the love we had for each other,' she added. Charleigh laughed as she recalled her brother as being 'outgoing, very outgoing.' 'He was a bit of a s**tstirrer,' she said. 'He had his own personal slang. He'd come home and ask how your day was and if you said you'd had a bad day he'd ask you 'are you loving it' over and over until you caved. 'He'd go to work on a Monday morning when the boys were all tired and he'd go around and say 'are you loving it' to get under their skin,' she chuckled. She revealed his friends had 'forever loving it' tattooed in Corey's memory. Charleigh recalled she was at work last week when she received the devastating news that her only sibling had died. 'I was at work on Tuesday and it was around 7pm. My parents had received a call from one of his friends that was with him.' They told the Walsh family that 'Corey and his friends were on a fishing charter off the coast of Koh Racha Yai. 'They were fishing on the boat and celebrating their trip when they stopped to have lunch and go for a snorkel.' Charleigh said the family was still waiting on confirmation surrounding the exact circumstances of his death. 'We're still waiting for his friends to get home to learn more about it,' she said. She told that his six friends had struggled to get flights home and were 'traumatised' by the ordeal. Charleigh said she had also been stuck in a state of numbness since receiving the tragic news. 'It doesn't feel real. I'm still in shock.' 'The support we are receiving from family, friends and dozens of people we have never met has been helping us cope. We are so grateful for everyone,' she said. Colleagues from Corey's work have set-up a GoFundMe that has so far raised over $14,000. 'We would like to help his family and show how much love he brought to this world,' they said in a heartbreaking statement. Corey was due to return home this weekend.
