Phuket-based TV correspondent dies

SURAT THANI: Phuket-based TV correspondent Colin Hillis died on Saturday after a seizure and fall while walking to the Koh Samui ferry in Don Sak. He was 41.

The Scottish-born reporter worked with Lanarkshire Television as anchor on its nightly magazine program Live@6 and was also a newscaster for the station between 1999 and 2001.

Earlier in his career, he was assistant director on the 1994 six-part BBC drama series Taking over the Asylum, which won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for Best Series.

Before moving to Phuket five years ago, he worked as a presenter on various Scottish radio stations including Radio Clyde (Glasgow), Radio Forth (Edinburgh) Radio Borders (Galashiels) Central FM (Stirling) and West Sound Radio (Ayr/Dumfries), as well as BBC Radio.

Up to the time of his death he had worked with Bangkok-based Capital Television (CTV) for almost two years. During that time he also covered the tsunami for several international networks.

CTV Managing Director Les Nyerges said the whole team had been “shocked and saddened” by Mr Hillis’s sudden death. “He was a focused and hardworking person,” Mr Nyerges added. “We will greatly miss his enthusiasm, strength and insight.”

A memorial service Mr Hillis is to be held in the Cherngtalay Room at the Laguna Beach Resort at 5 pm on Saturday, May 27.

Flowers may be sent to the Executive Office at Laguna Beach Resort, Bangtao Bay, Phuket 83110.