British Tourist Dies, Friend Unresponsive at Koh Samui Hotel as Police Probe Drugs

KOH SAMUI — A 28-year-old British tourist was pronounced dead early Friday after he and a friend were found unconscious at a luxury hotel on Koh Samui, police said, as authorities investigate possible drug involvement and the reported disappearance of cash.

Police said officers from Bo Phut Police Station were alerted around 4 a.m. to two British men found unresponsive — one at the hotel reception and the other inside a guest room — at a hotel in the Chaweng Beach area. Both were taken to hospital, where one was later declared dead.

According to a preliminary investigation, one of the men, Kris, 28, returned to the shared room around 2:35 a.m. with a 21-year-old transgender woman he had met at an entertainment venue. About 30 minutes later, the second man, Luke, 28, arrived with a Thai man. Police said the transgender woman later left the room.

About 15 minutes after that, Kris went to the hotel reception and reported that about 1,500 pounds ($1,900) in cash was missing, alleging it had been taken by the transgender woman. He then collapsed and lost consciousness, prompting hotel staff to call police.

Officers found Luke unconscious in the room. He had stopped breathing and was given CPR before being rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:53 a.m., police said.

A preliminary examination found no external injuries on the body. Police said a plastic tube commonly used to store cannabis was found in the deceased man’s pants pocket. His friend was transferred to another hospital and is in stable condition but has not yet been able to give a statement. Preliminary medical tests detected morphine in his system, police said.

Investigators later questioned the transgender woman and released her after taking her statement. The Thai man who accompanied Luke was also questioned and tested positive for methamphetamine, police said.

Police Superintendent Col. Kanchawit Phoprasit said investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, tracing the missing money and awaiting detailed autopsy results from the Police Hospital’s forensic institute to determine how the morphine entered the body and whether it was linked to the death.

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