Fisherman found dead

PHUKET TOWN: The body of a Burmese fisherman washed ashore near Chocktaweekij fishing pier, off Si Sena Rd, at about 2 am on Sunday. Police have ruled out murder, saying that they believe the man fell from the pier into the water two days earlier while drunk, and drowned. Phuket Town Police inspector Pol Maj Watcharin Thirathikanwiwat told the Gazette that the victim was a Burmese fisherman aged about 35. Police estimate he had been dead about two days when the body washed ashore near the pier, where it was quickly surrounded by a large group of curious onlookers. Maj Watcharin said, “Friends of the dead man have told us that they were drinking with him and that he left the group to urinate. But because he was so drunk he fell into the sea. His friends said they tried unsuccessfully to help. “His head did sustain injuries consistent with being struck by a hard object, but I don’t think murder was involved,” he said, contradicting local media reports that the man had been beaten over the head and dumped into the sea after a fight broke out. Maj Watcharin added that the investigation would continue, but that he expected to close the case very soon.