“Bike racer’ found dead in hotel

PHUKET CITY: The body of a 45-year-old New Zealander was discovered in a room at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on June 19, in what police believe was a case of suicide.

Terrance Hicks, from Auckland, was found dead at 3 pm, surrounded by discarded pill containers, Pol Lt Thivakorn Kongpeth of Phuket City Police Station told the Gazette.

Investigators estimate that Mr Hicks took 60 antihistmine and tranquilizer pills, causing his death. On a table by the bed was a note saying, “Please dispose of my body by fire in Thailand.”

Hotel records showed that Mr Hicks registered at the Merlin on June 17 and was due to check out on the day he was found dead. Under “occupation”, Mr Hicks wrote “motorcycle racer”.

Lt Thivakorn said, “We will contact the New Zealand Embassy to get in touch with the deceased’s relatives. At present, the body is being kept at Wachira Phuket Hospital. There are no pathologists here, so we will send it to Bangkok for autopsy.”