Phuket road victim identified as Aussie model

PHUKET: The young woman who died in a motorbike accident in Phuket early on Saturday morning has been identified as Lana O’Connell, a successful young model from the Gold Coast, Australia.

Miss O’Connell was riding a motorbike along Patak Road toward Chalong Circle with her long-term partner Kenneth Trivett at about 3:30am when they struck a motorbike with sidecar.

Mr Trivett was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hosiptal. He suffered minor injuries and has since been discharged, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Miss O’Connell’s family are still coming to terms with her death.

“Lana loved her life, loved her family and all her friends and special people in her life. She had so many dreams and aspirations. She was beautiful inside as well as outside. She will be missed,” her mother, Marilyn, posted on Facebook.

Mrs O’Connell’s expressions of grief brought condolences from friends and family.

“We are thinking of you in this time of sorrow. Lana was a beautiful person, she will be sadly missed,” said Eve Soutter.

“Absolutely devastated with the tragic news. So young, so beautiful and without doubt a woman who was going places. I really can’t express how sad and sorry I am,” added Len Whitehead.

Miss O’Connell, who studied at Griffith University and worked at Jupiters Hotel & Casino, also had a promising career as a model.

“I have worked with her a few times and she was always so professional and one of the girls who was really earmarked to go far,” said Glamorous Life swimwear designer Joanne Rahn.

“She was selected for the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and was always pushed forward for media. I have really fond memories of working with her,” she added.