The owner of a local oyster farm reported finding the man’s body in the sea off Koh Maphrao, and called for assistance before bringing the body ashore to a pier at Koh Kaew, on Phuket.
The man, dressed only in his underwear, had a black plastic bag tied to the his wrist, said Lt Col Sakchai Chunyong of the Phuket City Police.
The bag contained some clothes, a pair of shoes, a helmet, a phone, about B600 cash, and a war veteran identification card identifying the man as Chalermphol Chueirnaka, 56.
The bag also contained several bronchodilators as well as a Chanote title deed for a plot of land at Baan Prusomphan in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, where Mr Chalermphol was registered as living.
Mr Chalermphol apparently often swam between Phuket and Koh Maphrao, which lies little more than 200 metres off Phuket’s east coast.
“The Koh Maphrao village headman said that Mr Chalermphol, who is believed to have suffered epilepsy, moved from Baan Prusomphan in Thalang to Koh Maphrao to live with his his wife,” Col Sakchai said.
“His family have been notified of his death, and although there were no sign of foul play on his body, we have had his body taken to Vachira Hospital for doctors to confirm the cause of death,” Col Sakchai added.