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NEED TO KNOW
- Two Australian tourists died after drowning in Thailand within days of each other, according to reports.
- Corey Walsh, 22, was swimming with friends off a chartered boat near the island of Ko Racha Yai on May 6 when he was pulled by a strong current
- The body of a missing 41-year-old man, also from Australia, was discovered on May 10, drifting about 65 feet from the shoreline in Phuket
An Australian tourist has drowned in Thailand just days after another Aussie visiting the country died under similar circumstances, according to reports.
The victim, a 41-year-old man, was reported missing by his wife in Phuket on Wednesday, May 7, Sky News Australia and News.com.au reported.
On Saturday, May 10, a lifeguard at Freedom Beach — a swimming area in Phuket — spotted a body drifting about 65 feet from the shoreline, according to the outlets.
Authorities arrived to find the body of the man, who only wore black underpants when he was found, and retrieved him from the waters using ropes.
In a statement to Asia Pacific Press, according to News.com.au, Police Lt. Col. Wiwat Chamnankit said they believe the currents were too strong for the man — who had traveled to Thailand on April 20 — to swim back to land.
“Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide,” Chamnankit said.
Authorities notified the victim’s family about the discovery of their loved one’s body, the police official also said. His body was scheduled to be autopsied, and the cause of his death is under investigation, News.com.au reported.
The discovery of the 41-year-old man’s body follows the drowning death of another Australian tourist in Thailand.
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Corey Walsh, 22, a plumber from Melbourne, was swimming with friends off a chartered boat near the island of Ko Racha Yai on Tuesday, May 6, when he was pulled by a strong current, according to The Age, 7 News Australia and News.com.au.
Walsh was reportedly intoxicated before he went into the water. Rescuers pulled him out, and he was administered CPR. He was later taken to a hospital in Phuket, where he died.
“The victim had consumed a large amount of alcohol before entering the water. He was reportedly intoxicated and repeatedly jumped in and out of the sea before eventually drowning,” said Lt. Col. Kanen Somrak of Chalong Police Station, according to News.com.au.
Somrak said there were no illegal substances at the scene, adding, ‘Only empty alcohol beverage bottles were discovered.”
In an interview with The Age, John Walsh, the victim’s father, said his son and several friends were drinking and swimming prior to the tragedy.
“He was magnetic, people instantly adored him,” John Walsh said of Corey, who was a fan of Muay Thai (also known as Thai boxing).
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The family is awaiting to find out exactly what happened that led to their loved one’s death, The Age reported.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to help the victim’s surviving relatives. As of Monday, May 12, nearly $10,000 has been raised.
“From a stranger to family to friends,” the organizer wrote in the fundraiser’s description, “he seemed to put a smile on anyones face. we would like to help the family by doing this fundraiser to show support and just how much love this man bought to this world our condolences go out to the Walsh family and just a massive thankyou for bringing up this one of a kind gentleman.”
PEOPLE contacted Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Monday, as well as the GoFundMe organizer for Corey’s family.
