24/06/2008

British Tourist's Shock Thailand Death

A British tourist has died in a freak electrocution accident in Thailand as he walked back to his hotel.

It is believed that Scott Mitchinson, 30, of Kitchener Street, Sunderland, died after stepping on a puddle containing a live power cable.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm a British male died on June 19, in Bangkok, Thailand."

The Foreign Office is in contact with his next of kin and "consular assistance is being provided".

The tourist had been staying in Bangkok and was walking from a bar to his hotel with his girlfriend, Khun Wanidar, 32, in the district of Pattaya, when the accident happened.

They had been walking in heavy rainstorms last Thursday when Mr Mitchinson collapsed and began to convulse.

Heavy downpours had struck in the early hours and flooded the district, damaging property and disrupting traffic.

It is understood passers-by were unable to help in case they electrocuted themselves.

Mr Mitchinson's father, John, 72, said Scott was his only son and that he "enjoyed life and lived it to the full".

Scott, an former oil rigs worker in Aberdeen had been in Thailand for one week.

It is understood he had gone to Thailand with his friends to see a school friend who had bought a pub.

(DS)

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