A local hotel worker passing the yacht – the Waitane II, sailing under a New Zealand flag – on a dinghy reported the death to police at about 10:30am, said Maj Thada Sodarat of the Chalong Police.
“He said that he boarded and inspected the yacht after noticing a stench emanating from the vessel, and that’s when he found the body and immediately called the police,” Maj Sodarat said.
Police believe the man had died about 10 days before his body was discovered.
“There were no signs of assault or a struggle,” Maj Sodarat said. “We found a credit card issued by the ANZ Bank, but we could not find any photographic ID with which we could positively identify the man,” he said.*
Police have begun their investigation to establish the man’s identity.
“As far as we know, no missing person reports have been filed in our area, but will check with other police stations and authorities on this,” Maj Sodarat said.
“Meanwhile, the man’s body has been taken Vachira Phuket Hospital for doctors to confirm the cause of death,” he added.
* The Phuket News has been informed of the name of the person the credit card was issued to, but is withholding from publishing it until it has been confirmed that the man’s next of kin have been notified of his death.