British backpacker found dead on Thailand’s notorious ‘Death Island’

The body of a British backpacker has been found in a shallow ditch on Thailand’s notorious Koh Tao island, where several tourists have died in suspicious circumstances in recent years. 

Theo Bailey, believed to be 31, joined his long-term girlfriend of 10 years Chantal Xerri, 27, for a night out with other travellers on Koh Tao last month.

The pair were pictured revelling in the festivities with their fellow holidaymakers on the evening of March 18, before embarking on a pub crawl planned by a local sports bar.

But Theo was tragically found dead the next afternoon in a shallow water drainage ditch outside the Rocktopus diving centre, having vanished at some point the night before. 

His phone is said to have been missing and police believe he had been there for several hours before he was discovered.

Officers said today that the case ‘was still open’ but they had not made any arrests, believing Theo’s death was an accident. They claim to be waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.

Theo’s body was discovered near Sairee Beach, the same beauty spot where Brits Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, https://nhanlambangcap24h.com/ were bludgeoned to death in September 2014 – the incident which gave rise to the grim moniker Death Island.

An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in touch with the local authorities.’ 

An image of Theo Bailey – a British backpacker who turned up dead in Thailand last month

Theo Bailey, believed to be 31, joined his long-term girlfriend of 10 years Chantal Xerri, 27, for a night out with other travellers on Koh Tao last month

Theo was tragically found dead on March 19 in a shallow water drainage ditch outside the Rocktopus diving centre on Koh Tao island, having vanished at some point the night before

Theo’s devastated partner Chantal, who is listed as a teaching assistant working for Teaching Personnel based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, posted several tributes online to her partner

Theo and Chantal are pictured together in this image believed to have been taken the night he disappeared

Speaking on Thursday night, Lieutenant Colonel Chokchai Suthimek, superintendent of the Koh Tao police station said: ‘We believe that the tourist walked and fell into a small water channel at night. He died near the Rocktopus Dive Shop at Sairee Beach.

‘The police arrived and cordoned off the scene of the incident and examined the area the next day. Forensics unit arrived and also examined the scene.

‘The body was sent for a detailed examination at the forensic department at Surat Thani Hospital and reported to the British Embassy to coordinate with the tourist’s family.