Body found off Phuket believed to be missing Singaporean student

PHUKET: A Phuket speedboat returning from dropping tourists off at Koh Hei today reported the grisly discovery of a body floating about seven kilometers south of Phuket.

Police suspect that the body found is that of missing Chinese national and Singaporean student Gao Yang, who slipped from the rocks at Phuket’s Promthep Cape late Wednesday afternoon (story here).

Officers from the Phuket Tourist Rescue Center at Chalong were dispatched to recover the body.

“We will have the body identified as soon as possible,” Lt Col Panya Chaichana of the Phuket Marine Police told the Phuket Gazette.

“What we have confirmed so far is that the body found is wearing a blue shirt that matches the one worn by Mr Gao when he slipped from the rocks,” Col Panya said.

Officers from the Marine Police and local rescue teams launched a search for Mr Gao after receiving reports that he slipped into the sea on Wednesday (story here).

Since then, however, the current foul weather has hampered efforts.

— Chutharat Plerin