An 84-year-old German tourist was found dead in his hotel room near Kamala Beach in Phuket on Sunday. Police ordered an autopsy and notified the German embassy. They also confirmed no foul play and said the investigation is ongoing while the family is contacted.
An elderly German was found dead in his hotel room near Kamala Beach on Sunday in Phuket after a friend reported he could not be reached by phone, and a housekeeper was unable to access the room. The man, identified in the press only as Mr. Lothar, had a history of cholesterol and high blood pressure and was on medication. Police ordered an autopsy, a standard procedure in all unexpected deaths, and notified the German embassy, which is contacting his family. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing but reported no immediate signs of foul play.
An 84-year-old German tourist was found dead in his hotel room near Kamala Beach on Sunday evening. Authorities said a friend reported he could not reach the man by phone. Consequently, hotel staff alerted police around 7 p.m.
Deputy Inspector Surasit Wandee of Kamala Police Station said officers arrived at the hotel shortly after the call. They discovered the door was locked from the inside with a chain. Therefore, the staff and police accessed the room via the balcony.
The victim was identified as Lothar, from Kranz, Germany. Police said he was found kneeling at the foot of the bed. His hands and head rested on the mattress. Moreover, he was shirtless and appeared to have been dead for several hours.
Housekeeper and friend raise the alarm after unable to access room or reach German tourist by phone
A Myanmar housekeeper, identified as Soe, told police she first tried to enter the room in the morning. She knocked to clean the room but received no response. Later, in the evening, a foreign friend notified the hotel that he could not reach Lothar. Consequently, the staff attempted to open the door.
The chain prevented entry. Therefore, Soe climbed down the fourth-floor fire escape to access the balcony. She confirmed the man was unresponsive and immediately alerted police.
Police said there were no signs of a struggle in the room. Furthermore, they reported no evidence of forced entry. Inside, they found medication for cholesterol and high blood pressure. Authorities said it likely belonged to the deceased.
An autopsy was conducted by a forensic physician from Vachira Phuket Hospital. Officials said the examination included routine toxicology tests. Moreover, the investigation aimed to determine whether natural causes were responsible.
German embassy notified and hotel staff document the scene and list items in the deceased’s room
Authorities notified the German Embassy promptly. Embassy officials were asked to contact Lothar’s relatives in Germany. Police said this step is standard protocol for foreign nationals found deceased abroad.
The hotel is located in the Kamala Beach area, a popular tourist destination. Staff said Lothar’s room was on the fourth floor. Therefore, accessing it required the use of the balcony due to the locked chain.
Deputy Inspector Surasit said the investigation was ongoing. Officers photographed the scene thoroughly and catalogued all items in the room. In addition, they documented the medication found.
Hotel management confirmed the incident to authorities. They said staff followed standard procedures when attempting to contact the guest. Meanwhile, security camera footage supported the timeline provided by the housekeeper and hotel staff.
Housekeeper followed emergency procedures and autopsy examines body for injuries and natural causes
Soe said she acted according to her training in emergency procedures. Consequently, she alerted police immediately after confirming the man was unresponsive. Police said her account matched security footage from the hotel.
No signs of criminal activity were evident, police stated. Furthermore, officers said foreign tourists in the area generally face minimal safety risks. Nevertheless, authorities stressed the investigation would continue until autopsy results were complete.
The autopsy examined the body for injuries or other abnormalities. It included a full toxicology screening. Furthermore, officials said the results would determine if natural causes were likely.
Police confirmed that a foreign friend of Lothar initially raised the alarm. However, they did not release the friend’s identity. The friend reportedly travelled with or knew the deceased before the incident.
Quick response by hotel staff helped police reach scene and review security before autopsy report
Deputy Inspector Surasit said the hotel staff’s quick response ensured authorities could reach the scene promptly. In addition, police emphasised that the cooperation prevented delays in confirming the death.
Kamala Beach attracts large numbers of international tourists year-round. Nevertheless, deaths of foreign tourists in the area remain rare. Authorities said most incidents involve medical emergencies or natural causes.
Police stated that hotel security systems included cameras covering hallways and common areas. They reviewed footage from the morning and evening before the body was found. No unusual activity was recorded, they added.
Authorities continue to follow standard protocols for documenting foreign deaths. Meanwhile, the German Embassy continues coordinating with the family. Police said the case remains open pending the autopsy report.
Officials stress public cooperation is key while autopsy expected to clarify cause of death and injuries
Officials urged the public to report any unusual activity immediately. They stressed that cooperation between hotel staff and authorities is critical in emergencies. Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector Surasit confirmed that no criminal elements were detected.
The autopsy report is expected to clarify the cause of death. Police said it will include toxicology results, full medical examination, and documentation of any injuries. Authorities will release findings once completed and after family notification.
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Deputy Inspector Surasit said hotel staff are trained in procedures for locked rooms. Furthermore, police said such training ensures a rapid response to emergencies. They stressed that no criminal activity has been found so far.
Police and hotel staff continue to treat the case with caution. Meanwhile, they maintain that all procedures have been followed correctly. The investigation remains active until autopsy results are released and relatives are notified.
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