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ANOTHER BRIT DEATH ON THAI ISLAND OF KOH TAO

author avatar Andrew Drummond | Jan 9, 2016
Another Brit ‘living the life’ ends it in controversial Thai tourist destination.

Another Briton has been found dead on the Thai holiday island of Koh Tao and has been named as Luke Miller of Newport, Isle of Wight. 


Miller is reported to have died yesterday after jumping into the pool attached to the Sunset bar and restaurant .

Police say they suspect no foul play.

Police Lt Col Napha Senathip, an investigative officer at Koh Tao Police Station, is quoted by the Khao Sod newspaper as saying: 

“He must have climbed to the roof of a [nearby] DJ booth, jumped off, and his head hit the swimming pool floor, killing him.”

Police added that he may have been intoxicated at the time. There were cuts on  his hands from they believe barbed wire as he climbed onto a DJs booth.


Miller had last posted on Facebook on December 31st New Year’s Eve after being chastised for his wild behaviour.

Luke was travelling with two friends who called themselves the ‘Three Musketeers’ for a five week holiday in Thailand and was clearly excited by the prospect.

He had even posted his travel booking.

In his last post he wrote as if he was travelling to the Full Moon party on Koh Phangan:

 “Can honestly say this new year I am living the dream of to the full moon party on a speed boat drink cocktails strawberry daiquiris living life to the full yolo so let’s do this”.

A crowd funding site to repatriate Miller’s body had today raised over £4,000 of its £5000 target.

Koh Tao is of course where Hannah Witheridge from Norfolk and David Miller from Jersey were murdered last year and where questions still surround the death of Nick Pearson, 25, from Derby, who is reported to have drowned after falling into rocks last year.  His parents believe the circumstances of his death were covered up.

On New Year’s Eve 2013/4 Stephen Ashton was shot dead on Koh Phangan when he was caught up in a fight between rival Thai groups.

Miller’s Facebook posts suggest there is no change to the free drugs culture on the island which is controlled by local Mafia who control local police.

Koh Tao is in the same district as Koh Phangan and is police from the larger island.

The FCO has stated that is it giving consular assistance to the family.


The Foreign and Commonwealth Office gives the following warning for travellers to the Koh Samui Archipelago, but few seem to take the advice or even read it.

“Western tourists including British nationals have been victims of vicious, unprovoked attacks by individuals and gangs in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (the Samui archipelago). In January 2013 a British national was killed in a shooting incident while at a beach party in Haad Rin on Koh Phanang and in September 2014, 2 British nationals were killed in Tao.
Violent sexual assaults and robberies against both men and women are reported regularly in the Koh Samui archipelago and Krabi province. These are particularly common during the monthly Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars.
Tourists have also been robbed after bringing visitors to their hotel rooms. In some cases their drinks were drugged. Be careful about taking drinks from strangers and at clubs and parties, particularly in Koh Samui, Pattaya and at the Full Moon party on Koh Phangan, where date rapes have been reported.
Attacks have also occurred in other tourist districts in Thailand including Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Krabi. In light of the risk of unprovoked attacks you should be cautious and take care, especially at night.
Alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment resulting in accidents, injuries, robbery, assaults and lost travel documents. If you drink, know your limit. Drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK. Some British nationals in Thailand have suffered severe psychiatric problems because of drug use, resulting in some suicides.”
About the Author

Andrew Drummond

Andrew Drummond is a British independent journalist and occasional television documentary maker. He is a former Fleet Street, London, journalist having worked at the Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, News of the World, Observer and The Times.

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