British tourist found dead on Phuket beach

THAILAND North Phuket Naiyang Beach View along the empty sandy beach with a single boat in the blue sea....

A British tourist of Malaysian origin has been found dead on a beach in Phuket, Thailand.

The 68-year-old man was found on Naiyang Beach in Phuket's Thalang district on Saturday morning.

According to police lieutenant Watcharin Jirattikarnwiwat, an officer on duty of Thachatchai police station, the body of Simon Lian Hua Soh was spotted by local people at 7.20am.

According to Thai Visa News, the man was found lying on his back, full clothed, with his body almost covered with sand.

Hi wallet, a key from the Naiyan Sonwa Hotel, and a driving license and an identification card of a British citizen were found on his body.

A preliminary check did not appear to show signs of injury, and his body was sent to Thalang Hospital for an autopsy.

Watcharin said officials believe he checked into the hotel alone, and came out to jog on the beach.

Experts believe he then possibly suffered a heat attack while running, before becoming unconscious and passing away.

The rising tide then washed sand over his body before he was spotted by fishermen the next morning.

Watcharin told the Phuket Gazette: "We believe that he died about 10 hours before he was discovered. There was no sign of a struggle.

"We believe that he may have fallen unconscious on the beach. With no one around to help him, it is possible that he was just covered by sand and water as the tide came in."