The dead man was identified today as Santi Jandang, 36, from Udon Thani Province.
He was identified by his wife who had been looking for him in Sakoo area last night and met with police who showed her the pictures of the body and belongings found with it.
Police initially believed the man was a murder victim. His nose and ears were gone and there was a wound to his head which police suspected might have been caused by a blow from a blunt object.
However, his wife was adamant that Mr Santi had no conflicts with other people.
She said that he had gone fishing at the tip of Laem Sai Kru, two kilometers from the south end of Nai Yang beach.
Police are now leaning towards accidental death, with Mr Santi having been swept off the rocks by a large wave.
An initial medical examination at Thalang hospital showed that Mr Santi’s body had been in the water overnight, and police now think that the missing nose and ears may have been nibbled off by fish.
However, they have yet to rule out the possibility that he was murdered.