Unidentified body found floating on Phuket shoreline

Wichit police received a call from a local resident at 8:20am today stating that he had seen the body of a man floating in the sea behind Thailand Smelting and Refining Co Ltd (Thaisarco Ao Makham) in Moo 8 Wichit.

Wichit Police Investigator Lt Ekkarach Chartpai and his team arrived at the scene with Moo 8 village headman Sontaya Usaha and Kusolharm rescue workers who were able to recover the body.

Lt Ekkarach said “The body is that of a male aged between 30-40 years old with a height of between 165-170 cm. The man had a short military style hair cut and was wearing a grey short sleeved T-shirt and black shorts.

“We discovered a slash wound on his neck which is about seven centimetres long. We believe he has been dead for at least three days. We have transferred that body to Vachira Hospital for doctors to determine the cause of death.” he said.

Local resident, Sayan Thanakanjana, 43, who spotted the body while fishing in the area told police that he saw something floating in the sea and thought it was a bin liner.

“When it kept floating to the area where I fished I could see that it was a dead body so I called police,” Mr Sayan said.

Village headman Mr Sontaya added, “After looking at the body, I don’t think he is from this area. No one seems to know or recognise him.”

Lt Ekkarach concluded, “It is possible that the body is that of a member of a fishing crew who may possibly have been murdered and dumped in the sea, but whatever the case, we are investigating to find out who he is and what happened to him.”

Phuket News