An Irish backpacker has been found dead in a hotel room on Thailand’s notorious Koh Tao island.
Robby Kinlan, 21, was found lying on his bed by a long-time friend last week while staying at the BaanTao Bungalo Resort.
He was discovered still holding his phone, which was connected to a wall socket and charging, police said today, without confirming a cause of death.
Lt Colonel Theeraphat Sanjai said that authorities were looking to send the body for autopsy, but high waves have hampered efforts to reach the hospital on the mainland.
Robby’s friends at Dive Academy in Inishmore have since set up a crowdfunder to help bring the body home to his grieving mother.
Tracy King, his mother, wrote in a tribute: ‘RIP to my precious son Robby. He is resting in this beautiful Temple in Koh Tao Thailand before his removal back to Ireland.
‘I am heartbroken and overwhelmed and so very grateful for all the kindness being shown to us at this time.’
One of Robby’s friends has reportedly decided to stay with the body in Koh Tao so that he ‘is not alone’ as efforts are made to repatriate the avid diver.
More than 37,000 euros (£31,000) have already been raised for Robby’s repatriation.
Robby’s friends have since set up a crowdfunder to pay for his repatriation
He was discovered still holding his phone, which was connected to a wall socket and charging, police said today
Police search the room of the young traveller after a friend and staff found him unresponsive
Robby was unresponsive when his friend knocked on the door at around 11am on January 9.
The door was locked and staff had to climb in, finding the 21-year-old tragically already dead.
‘The room had not been broken into or searched, and there were no signs of any assault. He died alone in the room,’ Sanjai said.
‘His friend confirmed that he didn’t know if he had any pre-existing medical conditions,’ he added, noting there were no alcoholic drinks in the room when police entered.
Authorities are now waiting for rough seas to subside before Robby’s body can be sent to Surat Thai province on the mainland for a post-mortem examination.
‘We need to wait for the situation with the waves to subside before we can coordinate with the rescue team, boat, and vehicle to transport the body to the forensic department in Surat Thani Hospital,’ Sanjai added.
‘We also want to conduct the autopsy as soon as possible to determine the exact cause of death.’
Robby’s body is currently being kept at a temple until it can be sent for an autopsy
Robby was staying at the BaanTao Bungalo Resort on the Thai island
Robby was travelling in Thailand, ‘living his dream… in the place that made him happy’
A fundraiser has since been set up on behalf of the family to raise money to bring Robby home.
If he can’t be brought back to Ireland, he will be cremated at a Buddhist temple.
Robby was travelling in Thailand, ‘living his dream… in the place that made him happy’ as a keen scuba diver.
‘Robby wasn’t just a friend – he was the kind of person who lit up every room with his kindness and warmth,’ a message on the fundraiser said.
‘He was always the first to help others, putting their needs before his own without a second thought.’
The organisers said they want to ‘honour Robby in the best way we can by helping his mum and family’.
‘We want to give everyone the chance to say their goodbyes and celebrate the incredible person he was.’
Officers said Robby was staying at a resort fewer than two miles from the Sairee Beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death in September 2014 – the incident which gave rise to the grim moniker ‘Death Island’.
In the last decade alone, there have been more than a dozen cases of unexplained or suspicious tourist deaths on the island.
Many believe that cases are covered up or not investigated properly to protect powerful local interests on the island, which has a long history of violence and corruption.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
