A Thai model has been found dead mysteriously while working abroad in Bahrain - after showing off bruises from an alleged attack by her boyfriend.

Breadwinner Kaikan Kaennakam, 31, had worked as a model but when work dried up, ventured overseas to work in a restaurant in the Middle Eastern country to support her family in northeast Thailand.

She regularly updated them through social media and told them she had met and started living with her Bahraini boyfriend.

However, Kaikan suddenly stopped posting online in April 2023, sparking worry among her relatives who could not reach her by phone.

Kaikan's family sought help from the Thai Embassy this January to search for her. Despite help from the Thai community in Bahrain, they still could not locate the missing woman.

On April 18, the Thai Embassy in Bahrain informed Kaikan's family that the body of an unidentified Southeast Asian female had been kept in the Salmaniya Medical Complex morgue since last year.

A tattoo on the woman's leg reportedly identified her as the missing Thai worker. The cause of death was stated as 'acute lung and heart failure due to alcohol poisoning'.

Her family is now seeking help to repatriate her body - an expensive process without travel insurance - and believes her death was suspicious.

Kaikan's sister Suthida Ngernthaworn said in an online post on April 19: 'My sister started working in Bahrain around two or three years ago and found an Arab boyfriend there.

'However, we have not been able to contact her since April last year. Our family contacted the Thai Embassy in Bahrain and learned on April 18 this month that she had passed away.'

Suthida claimed Kaikan was being physically abused by her boyfriend, as she would often send them photos or videos of her wounds and bruises.

She said: 'The embassy in Bahrain documented the cause of death as alcohol intoxication, but her body photos contained bruises.

'We could not bring her body back because repatriation is expensive. My mum also wants the case to be reopened, and for an autopsy to be conducted again.'

The family has also sought assistance from Paveena Hongsakul, founder of a women and children's charity in Thailand.

Paveena said she has asked the Department of Consular Affairs director-general and the Protection of Thai Nationals Abroad Division director for help in flying Kaikan's body back to Thailand.

She added she has arranged for the Police General Hospital to re-examine the cause of Kaikan's death.

Speaking in a press conference, Paveena said: 'Thai women should assess carefully if they want to work abroad. There are risks of being tricked into prostitution, human trafficking, or drug rings.'

Citing data from 2004 to 2022, she said Bahrain was among the top destinations where Thai women were duped into becoming sex workers. Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates were also at the top of the list.