Police were investigating today after a British tourist was found dead in a storm drain on a Thai island.

Fraser Wright, 37, from Swindon, Wiltshire, had been on holiday with relatives before going out drinking alone on the bustling destination of Phuket - known for its bars and massage parlours - on Tuesday evening.

Shocked locals noticed the body this morning at around 9 am floating face down in the shallow body of water used to carry rainwater from storms into the sea.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene in front of a motorcycle rental shop but Fraser was pronounced dead.

Fraser's relatives, who were on holiday with him, were informed. They said he had been missing since 10 pm the previous night.


Police Captain Phongsathorn Phothong from the Patong district police station said a report was received at 9.30am.

Officers arrived at the scene with rescue workers and paramedics before the area near the Tawan Bike Shop was cordoned off.

The found the body of a male floating in the water inside the drainage ditch. There was a handrail in front of the ditch.

Officers believe he had been dead for around five or six hours.

Police Captain Phongsathorn said: ‘We have sent the tourist's body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a thorough autopsy to determine the cause of death before handing it over to his family for religious ceremonies.

‘We have checked the security camera and found no one assaulted him.

‘He walked into the drainage ditch by himself at around 4amm and did not tell his family.

‘I received a report from a resident about the body discovery before informing his family.

‘Currently, we have to investigate further to determine the cause, while I don't know when the autopsy will be completed.'