Phuket drowning victim identified as British national

PHUKET: Police have identified the man whose body washed ashore on Patong Beach early yesterday morning (story here) as 37-year-old Jeremy Thomas O’Neill.

Because Mr O’Neill’s body was found without any identifying documents, police circulated a photo of him to hotels in Patong hoping he would be recognized, Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat explained.

His identity was confirmed when police scouring the beach came across his passport, and again later when he was recognized by staff at the Swiss Hotel in Soi Eden in Patong, where he had been a guest until May 8.

Patong Hospital confirmed that Mr O’Neill died by drowning, and also said that he had been treated at the hospital as an outpatient. They would not reveal what treatment he sought.

Lt Col Akanit said Mr O’Neill had been dead for six to eight hours when his body was discovered at about 6am.

“We are still investigating to find out more information about his period of stay in Thailand and when he was last seen alive,” Col Akanit said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong