Teenage British backpacker found dead on Thai beach

A teenage British backpacker was found dead on a Thailand beach after going swimming alone, an inquest has heard.

Tragic Bryony Freestone, 19, was holidaying in the south east Asian country earlier this year when she decided to go into the sea, the court was told.

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Bryony, from Little Houghton, Northamptonshire, was later found dead on a beach in Koh Chang.

An inquest into her death at Northampton County Hall heard that a member of staff at the KC Grande Hotel had attempted to wake Ms Freestone when she was found on the beach lying on her back at around 9am on August 14.

Attempts were made to resuscitate her and she was taken to a nearby clinic but confirmed deceased with a cause of death given as asphyxiation due to drowning.

Statements taken at the time said no-one had seen her in the water.

The inquest heard a tribute paid by Fiona Freestone to her daughter, who said she was "extremely close" to her twin sister Sophie.

In a statement read to the court, she said: "Together they would sing, dance, mountaineer, and scuba dive.

"Bryony achieved excellent GCSE and A-level results and went on to study geography at Exeter University, a subject she was passionate about.

"I would describe Bryony as gregarious, a loving personality."

At her funeral, someone described Bryony as being someone who laughed a lot - she knew it was good for the soul and lived her life with a smile.

"She saw the beauty in the world and was not ever afraid to chase it.

"We love and miss her very much."

Senior coroner Anne Pember said there was "very little information" in the case.

Recording that Ms Freestone's death was accidental, she said: "Bryony Freestone... went out swimming on her own in Thailand and sadly drowned."