Police were notified of the incident just after 9am, when Pol Lt Tharnnathon Meechina, a deputy investigator at Patong Police Station, received a report that a foreign tourist had been found deceased at the southern end of the beach.
Pol Lt Tharnnathon reported the incident to the superintendent of Patong Police and coordinated with doctors from Vachira Phuket Hospital and rescue workers from the Kusoldham Phuket Foundation to examine the scene.
At the beach steps at Kalim Beach, officers found the body of Gaurav Sethi, 45, an Indian national. He was wearing a light green crew-neck T-shirt, cream-coloured shorts and black sandals and was lying face down on the steps.
Police reported that there were no signs of struggle or visible wounds on the body.
Mr Sethi’s wife, Mrs Vartika Bassi, told police that her husband had gone down for breakfast at about 8am. About an hour later, at approximately 9am, the hotel receptionist informed her that he had been found lying face down on the beach. When she went to check on him, she discovered that he had already died.
Initial investigations found that Mr Sethi had checked into his accommodation at about 3am today (Mar 12) and was scheduled to stay until Sunday (Mar 15).
Forensic doctors from Vachira Phuket Hospital conducted a preliminary examination at the scene and recorded photographs as evidence. However, the cause of death could not immediately be determined.
The body was later transferred by rescue workers to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a more comprehensive post-mortem examination.
Police also confirmed that the Embassy of India in Thailand has been notified, and further action will proceed once the autopsy results are available.