Retired Microsoft expat found dead in Phuket luxury villa pool

PHUKET: A retired Microsoft engineer was found dead this morning in his Phuket luxury villa pool located at Ao Makham.

The body of the 69-year-old American expat was floating face down in the pool when police arrived at the scene.

“He was wearing black swimming trunks. There was blood around his ear – but no trace of a struggle,” said Lt Anurak Klangnarong of the Wichit Police.

“We also found a beer glass at the bottom of the pool and a pair of sunglasses floating in the water,” Lt Anurak said.

The retired man was living in the luxury villa with his Thai girlfriend, who left on Thursday to visit family in Nakhon Ratchasima, Lt Anurak said.

The maid found the body around 8:45am when she arrived at the villa – she does not work on Sundays – and immediately contacted police.

Police are waiting for the man’s girlfriend to return to Phuket to assist with the the man’s will.

Police declined to name the girlfriend.

The body has been sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital. However, police have not asked for any toxicity tests to be done.

Police tentatively believe the man died of natural causes.

“He might have forgotten to take his medicine because his girlfriend* was not there to look after him,” Lt Anurak explained.

Police were able to confirm the man had been undergoing treatment for a heart condition at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok.

The Gazette is withholding the man’s name until it has been confirmed his next of kin have been notified of his death.

* In the original report the Gazette mistakenly quoted Lt Anurak as having referred to the man’s girlfriend as his wife. The error is regretted.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong