Lt Nattaphon Palanusorn of the Kamala Police was notified of the man’s body, found lying in long grass beside a motorbike, at 9:50am.
According to photos provided to The Phuket News, it appeared the man had lost control of his motorbike on a steep section of road with sharp curves.
The 35-year-old tourist*, from Paris, was dressed in a green T-shirt and a patterned shorts, Lt Nattaphon noted in his report.
He was lying beside a black Phuket-registered Yamaha NMAX 155cc motorbike, Lt Nattaphon noted.
A mobile phone and sunglasses were also found nearby, he added.
Officers found scratches on the man’s right leg and a contusion on his forehead.
The body was taken to Patong Hospital for further examination, Lt Nattaphon confirmed.
Doctors and police together examined the body and believe that the man had died eight to 10 hours before his body was found, Lt Nattaphon said.
* The Phuket News is withholding the man’s name until it has been confirmed that his next of kin have been notified.