The corpse was found about one nautical mile northwest of the island, said Pol Capt Sanya Kaewnui, deputy investigation chief at Ao Nang Police Station, who was alerted by an official from the Nopparat Tara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park yesterday morning.
On reaching the scene, police, medical staff from Krabi Hospital and rescue workers found the naked body of the foreign man, aged around 30-40, floating in the sea. He was about 180cm tall with a bald head. He was believed to have died at least three to five days before his body was discovered, Thai media reported, and a foul odour had spread around the area.
Police found no bruises on his body. There were flower tattoos on his left arm and a silver earring in his left ear. His body was brought to shore.
Police speculated that the man might have taken off his clothes to swim off a nearby province, and been swept towards Krabi in a storm. The water current coming to Krabi bay was from Phang Nga and Phuket.
His body was sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Authorities were looking for the man’s friends or relatives. Police stations in nearby areas would be contacted to check whether a missing person report was filed, police said.