More than $50k raised following tragic death of Aussie teen in Thailand

More than $50k has been raised for the family of Australian teenager, Joshua Connell, who fell six floors to his death while holidaying in Thailand.

A Go Fund Me page has raised more than $50,000, as the community rallies around the family of 19-year-old Joshua Connell, who fell six floors to his death in Thailand last week.

The page was set up to help fund the extensive costs associated with bringing the Aussie teenager back home to Australia.

“Unfortunately, there are significant expenses associated with bringing Josh home,” wrote page organiser, Keith Roscarel.

“These include the cost of repatriating Josh and travelling to Thailand. These are a large financial burden in addition to the cost of the funeral.

“I’m sure even though the family would never ask for this kind of help, it will be appreciated by Michelle and Steve during this sorrowful time.”

The page has already exceeded its $50,000 goal, receiving $54,976 in donations so far.

“We are extremely saddened to hear the sudden loss of Josh,” wrote Dennis Howe, who described Joshua as a “polite young man”, who was “very reliable and hardworking”.

“He was a very well like member of our team, having worked at Howe Farms during his Gap year,” he wrote.

Darren Leahy described the teenagers as “a true gentlement”.

TRIBUTES FLOW

Tributes are pouring in for an Australian teenager who died after falling six floors from a hotel rooftop in Thailand. .

Joshua James Connell, 19, slipped and fell off a rooftop pool, plummeting to his death, during a backpacking holiday with mates.

“I’m so, so sorry. My heart aches for you. No one should have to go through this. Sending you so much love. You are in so much in my thoughts,” wrote one mourner on the Facebook page of Mr Connell’s mother, Michelle Henderson.

Another wrote: “I am so utterly heartbroken broken for you and your whole family! A fantastic young man who will be sorely missed!”

Joshua Connell and his mother, Michelle Henderson. Picture: Facebook

Dozens of comments written under a photo of Mr Connell with his mum next to him, expressed shock and heartbreak at the devastating loss of a much-loved son under such tragic circumstances.

“I am so incredibly sorry to hear about your beautiful son. Sending you and all your family so much love Michelle. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers,” another mourner wrote.

“No words are enough to comfort or console you and the family. I join the chorus of broken hearts,” wrote another.

CCTV shows Australian tourist Joshua James Connell, 19, (walking along a wall at the side of the swimming pool then falling from a hotel roof in Phuket, Thailand. Picture: supplied

Moments before the fall, the 19-year-old backpacker from Canberra was filmed on CCTV footage balancing along a wall above the swimming pool at the Paripas Patong Resort in Phuket.

Wearing only boardshorts and no shirt, Mr Connell tiptoed along the narrow rail in a balancing act with his hands in the air, according to The Mirror, which obtained the footage.

Joshua James Connell, 19, (top left) fell six floors to his death from a hotel rooftop. Picture: supplied.

As he reached the end of the rail, surveillance footage shows him slip and fall 15 metres onto the tin roof of a cafe below at about 5.45pm local time.

Local Ning Tanyaporn, who was preparing to open a street restaurant across the road, said the sound was so extreme it was like something had exploded.

Australian tourist Joshua James Connell was found dead after falling six floors in Phuket. Picture: supplied

“I had just opened my shop and I heard a loud thunder sound. I thought a car had crashed or there was an explosion in their kitchen,” Mr Tanyaporn told the Mirror.

“People gathered around the restaurant and saw the foreign man on the roof. He was unconscious so someone called an ambulance. Everyone was shocked that he fell down and died.”

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kokiat Boonplod said officers received the emergency call about a foreign man who had fallen from a hotel and arrived at the scene about five minutes later.

Mr Connell was rushed to a local hospital and was pronounced dead due to severe injuries from the fall. He remains at the Patong Hospital.

“The roof of the restaurant hut was shattered and several tiles were on the floor,” Mr Boonplod told the outlet.

Mr Connell was rushed to hospital from the resort where he was pronounced dead.

Police said CCTV footage from the hotel had been reviewed, and that they did not believe anyone else was involved in the death.

Hotel staff are being interviewed about events leading up to the apparent accident, and why Mr Connell was climbing and walking along the narrow wall.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not immediately respond to News Corp Australia’s request for comment, but the Australian Embassy is reported to be in contact with Mr Connell’s family.

Tourists walk on a beach on the Thai island of Phuket, where Joshua Connell was found dead. Picture: AFP

It’s the second death of an Australian backpacker falling from the roof of a Thailand hotel in the past month.

Billy James Simmons, 22, was found below his 11th-floor room at the Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa, at Patong Beach in May. Police believe it was another tragic accident.