A British businessman was killed in a horror motorbike crash in Thailand - just two days before his birthday celebrations.

Craig Davies, 50, from Wakefield, was thrown off his high-powered super bike when he lost control in Chiang Mai in the early hours of Thursday morning, October 9.

The Brit skidded along the ground near an underpass before being run over by three cars driving behind him. He was killed instantly.

Tragically, Craig had been planning a celebration with friends on Saturday to mark his 51st birthday.

Paramedics arrived at Chiang Mai-Lampang Highway at 12:20 am local time. They found Craig's black KTM 1290 Super Duke overturned on the pavement alongside crash debris.

Craig's severely mangled body was lying nearby in a pool of blood. Police said they are now reviewing CCTV cameras and interviewing witnesses as they investigate the cause of the accident.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Adulsiri Wongtankard of the Mae Ping Police Station said: ‘We have checked the security camera footage but are still reviewing it continuously. I cannot provide much information as it is part of the investigation process.

‘I feel sorry for the victim's relatives and the other party involved, because this is a deeply traumatic event. The other party involved is still unconscious and others who witnessed the incident are in shock.

‘We do not know the total number of vehicles that hit and ran over the victim. So far, two drivers presented themselves at the scene.

‘They parked and waited on the side of the road. We do not who his relatives are in Thailand or abroad, but the British Embassy in Bangkok have the details of the accident and his identity.

‘The upper part of the body was severely mangled. His phone was also locked when we arrived, making it difficult to contact his family. We were not able to contact any of his friends or relatives.'

Officers said Craig's he body was sent for a post mortem examination at the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Adulsiri added: 'We will carry out our duties to ensure the greatest possible justice.'

The Chiang Mai Special Rescue Unit warned motorists to exercise caution on sloped roads, especially at night.

The team said: 'Wet or dusty surfaces can easily cause a vehicle to lose control. Excessive speed significantly increases the risk of secondary accidents and fatal outcomes.'

Craig reportedly lived in Thailand, but had been travelling around Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and the Philippines.

He ran two businesses remotely selling health supplies. They were Natures Syngergy, registered in East London, and a second, Isomist, based in Wakefield.

Craig's Thai friend Aomkhwan Pronpan said paid tribute to the motorbike lover, who paid around 1.3 million Baht (30,000 GBP) for his super bike.

She said: 'Thank you for always supporting me. You are my best brother. Have a safe trip. Rest in peace.'

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.

However, a lack of road safety education in schools along with notoriously easy driving tests, police failures to enforce road laws, and chronic under-investment in infrastructure, all appear to hamper the efforts.