'Death Island" mystery persists

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Hailing from the picturesque village of Quilty in County Clare, Robby had set his sights on the vibrant diving havens in Southeast Asia.

“He just walked in one day and said, ‘I am going to Thailand. I have already booked the ticket.’ It was where all the diving was. He was doing very, very well over there and supported himself through his diving qualifications.”

Grieving friends have set up a fundraiser to bring Robby’s body back to Ireland, amassing nearly 45,000 euros (1.6 million baht) by Wednesday morning. Paying tribute to the vivacious backpacker, a close friend said he was the kind of person who lit up every room with his kindness and warmth.

“He was always the first to help others, putting their needs before his own without a second thought.”

In his final days, Robby’s dreams came alive amid Koh Tao’s azure depths, as he free dived and scuba-dived in the place that brought him boundless joy, surrounded by an ever-growing circle of friends.

His untimely passing has cast a dark shadow over what should have been the adventure of a lifetime, leaving those who knew him grappling for answers and mourning a life tragically cut short.

Fresh details have emerged about the untimely death of Irish diver Robert “Robby” Kinlan, who was discovered lifeless in his room at the Baan Tao Bungalo Resort on Thailand’s infamous Koh Tao Island, also known for its chilling moniker, Death Island.

Local Thai police revealed that the young diver, found around 11am on Thursday, January 9, is believed to have succumbed to acute heart failure.

The 21 year old’s lifeless body was discovered by a friend, in the unsettling presence of his mobile phone, which was still connected to a wall socket.

“The death seems to be acute heart failure,” said Lieutenant Colonel Theeraphat Sanjai.

The 21 year old, a skilled free diver and master diver, left for Thailand on November 20 last year in high spirits, obtaining two diving qualifications shortly after his arrival, said Robby’s mother.

“He was in a really good place mentally and his normal self.”

Continues at

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/irish-divers-fate-revealed-on-thailands-death-island-video

   

[unicorn]

6 hours ago, reader said:

...Local Thai police revealed that the young diver, found around 11am on Thursday, January 9, is believed to have succumbed to acute heart failure...

   

Since when do the police make medical determinations, particularly ones as bizarre as heart failure in a man in his early 20s. Yes, there are genetic conditions which can cause heart failure-related deaths in a 21 year-old, but they're extremely rare, and this diagnosis would have to be made by a pathologist at autopsy. Obviously, a more likely sudden death in someone who's been doing a lot of diving would be an arterial gas embolism, or perhaps a decompression-related complication. 

[reader]

On Koh Tao, island mafia determines everything. Autopsy delayed by "waves." Whole thing is suspicious.

 

[khaolakguy]

1 hour ago, reader said:

On Koh Tao, island mafia determines everything. Autopsy delayed by "waves." Whole thing is suspicious.

 

So many inexplicable deaths of young people on that island. Something deeply suspect.

[bkkmfj2648]

6 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

So many inexplicable deaths of young people on that island. Something deeply suspect.

Yes so true.

I think this poor guy's fate makes him number 26 of these mysterious deaths on Koh Tao.

So sad, as the island is so beautiful and is dedicated to diving and sea turtles.

[Travelingguy]

The previous article stated that an autopsy was scheduled and that the police were trying to determine a cause of death.  Now the police are saying that it is due to heart failure.  I suspect that the scheduled autopsy was performed.

[unicorn]

Well, if a lot of young people are dying on the island, then simple heart failure is not the answer. Probably an epidemiologist needs to look at where these people were staying. A death from carbon monoxide poisoning could appear to be cardiac in origin, so that should be considered. If there is a deep dive site on the island, that could also point to a possible cause, although all certified divers are taught how to minimize the risk of air embolisms or decompression illness, so if a lot of people are dying similarly, that seems less likely. An immature 21 year-old getting into trouble from diving, I'd believe, but lots of people? I'd have to suspect CO poisoning, or someone intentionally poisoning the victims. I don't know if they will, but the police certainly need to look for patterns (where the victims were staying, which bars they may have gone to, etc.). 

[bkkmfj2648]

3 hours ago, unicorn said:

but the police certainly need to look for patterns (where the victims were staying, which bars they may have gone to, etc.). 

More importantly because of the history if these deaths on this island, I would add to your list:

With whom did these victims make contact with on the island?

Were common contacts made between the many victims?

 

 

[unicorn]

Wow. That video is quite an eye-opener. Obviously, the local police are on the take and need to be replaced. One would hope that federal authorities could step in, but maybe that's against the law in Thailand? Completely outrageous. One would have to be rather foolhardy to visit that island. The US State Department should put a Level 4 advisory for that island. Interestingly, most of Thailand is Level 1, with only some areas being Level 3:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/thailand-travel-advisory.html

Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Provinces – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. In Songkhla, the insurgency is most active in the districts of Chana, Thepha, Nathawat, and Saba Yoi. U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places.

 

[khaolakguy]

It's a good video and well worth watching, especially if you are thinking of going there. Some of the comments from others below the video are also interesting.