Swede dies in Kata guesthouse

KARON, PHUKET: A young Swedish man was found dead in his room at the Kata View Guesthouse Sunday morning, according to a report in a local Thai-language newspaper.

Police at 9 am on Sunday responded to a report of a death in the Kata View Guesthouse on Soi Koktanode in tambon Karon.

Arriving at the scene with rescue workers from Karon Municipality and the Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation, they found the deceased lying on the ground next to his bed.

Later identified as 25-year-old Johan Christian Thorin, the Swede suffered a severe head wound below his eyes and had bled profusely. He was found dressed only in his underwear, according to the report.

Mr Christian’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further examination to determine the exact cause of death.

According to an initial investigation, Mr Thorin had checked into the guesthouse the day before he died, with a friend who was also a foreigner.

Police suspect an accidental fall as the cause of Mr Christian’s death, but are awaiting further information from the hospital, according to the report.

Mr Christian had been a member of the Swedish national ice hockey team, the report said. However, a reliable source in the Swedish media was unable to confirm this.

A source at the guesthouse confirmed that Mr Christian had died in his room, but declined to provide more information.