The body of Dean William McKeon was found on Rat U Thit 200 Pi Rd by a security guard at 6.40am on Saturday (October 8) morning.
The hotel’s security guard told Kathu Police that Mr McKeon and his five friends went to Soi Bangla and came back to the hotel at about 3am on the same morning after drinking.
Mr McKeon, from Geelong, Victoria, was on holiday in Phuket celebrating a birthday with friends when the incident occurred.
Kathu police Pol Capt Jakkrapong Luang-On said police were waiting for blood test results to confirm whether there was alcohol in Mr McKeon’s body at the time of death.
He said Mr McKeon was probably drunk, and came out on the balcony to get some fresh air, when he fell.
Sleepwalking was a possibility too, he said.
His mother Rayna told the Geelong Advertiser today (October 10): “He was staying with mates in a (multi-storey) hotel, where it seems he’s gone outside on to the balcony at some stage during the night, and he’s gone over,”
Mr McKeon’s sister, Kerryn Skuza, said details surrounding the timing and circumstances of the fall were unclear, the Advertiser reported.
“We think he got up during the night to get some air – that’s what we’re assuming.”
Dean was “a beautiful bloke”, she said.
“He was lovely to everyone, he was a really kind and gentle soul who loved music and was liked by everyone.”
Mrs Skuza said the family was still investigating ways in which Mr McKeon’s body could be returned to Australia for burial.
Mr McKeon’s body is in Patong Hospital, but is expected to be taken to Songkhla for an autopsy, the newspaper reported.