Cherng Talay Police were initially locally silent on the death of Mr Wright, until the news broke across UK media yesterday (Mar 19).
Police were called to the scene in Soi Bang Tao 2, Cherng Talay, at 2pm last Saturday (Mar 14), where the body of a foreign man, later confirmed to be that of Jordan Wright, was discovered lying face down in a drainage canal.
Officers from Cherng Talay Police Station, led by Pol Lt Col Sutthirak Chuthong, arrived with rescue workers and forensic specialists from Vachira Phuket Hospital. Initial examination found no signs of physical assault on the body.
A hotel key card recovered from the man led officers to a room at a nearby hotel at Bang Tao, located a short distance from where the body was found. Hotel records identified the guest as Mr Wright, a British national.
Police confirmed that staff had been unable to contact him after he failed to check out last Friday (Mar 13). A search of his room revealed no signs of forced entry or disturbance.
According to investigators, CCTV footage showed Mr Wright behaving erratically before leaving the hotel. His movements were later traced towards the area where his body was discovered. Authorities believe he had been dead for no more than two days prior to being found.
Further reports, first published by the UK’s Daily Mail, stated that Mr Wright, 33, was from Basildon, Essex, and had previously appeared on reality television. He later returned to work as a firefighter before moving into financial services.
Police have confirmed that a post-mortem examination is being conducted at Vachira Phuket Hospital to determine the exact cause of death, including whether any substances were present in his system.
“The case remains under investigation while we await the official autopsy results,” Pol Lt Col Sutthirak said. “We cannot confirm the cause of death at this stage.”
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed it is providing assistance to the man’s family, the Daily Mail reported.
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