Australians keep dying in tourism paradise Thailand more than any other country
Australians keep dying in this beloved tourism destination more than any other country - here’s the ominous reason why.
Three Australians have tragically died in three separate incidents within just one week in Thailand — a beloved nation which consistently has the highest number of Australian deaths of all international destinations.
The latest publicly available data from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) shows 324 Aussies died in Thailand in 2023-24, which was 180 more deaths than the next country, the Philippines. (Thailand also has the most cases of illness and hospitalisation).
And news.com.au can reveal while the official numbers are yet to be released, to date in 2024-25, deaths in Thailand are about 7 per cent higher than at the same time in 2023-24.
A look at the last ten years shows Thailand consistently ranks number one on the grim list of countries where the most Australians have died, followed by the Philippines and Indonesia.
As more Aussies flock to the popular Southeast Asian country, the number of deaths are surging.
Thailand attracts massive numbers of tourists from across the world seeking out tropical beaches, cultural experiences, delicious cuisine, bustling cities, vibrant night-life and a wild party scene.
But a sense of freedom, cheap alcohol, first time motorbike riders on poor roads, and risky surf conditions can turn exciting holidays into tragedy.
“Thailand’s combination of Insta-worthy beaches and bustling night-life can sometimes lead travellers to underestimate the risks,” Angus Kidman, a travel expert at insurance comparison website Finder, said.
“The allure of adventure, when mixed with alcohol and unfamiliar environments, can be a dangerous mix.”
There is also the risk of contracting prevalent illnesses, and the appeal of Thailand for its medical tourism where people seek out cheaper procedures and healthcare than is available in Australia.
DFAT said the majority of causes of death of Australians who die in Thailand are long term illness or medical episodes such as heart attacks and strokes. Of the deaths in 2023-24, 96 per cent were male and 84 per cent were aged 55 and over.
But the Australian Government’s official advice level for Thailand is still 2 of 4, warning Aussies to “exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand overall due to security and safety risks”. It highlights drink spiking and the need to party safely, an ongoing risk of terrorism, and road accidents being a significant cause of injury.
The country is famous for its wild parties AKA the Full Moon Party and even has an island, Koh Tao Island, that has earned the unfortunate moniker “Death Island” after a spate of deaths among holiday-makers.
Making global headlines just in the past week, a Love Island star’s ex-boyfriend allegedly stabbed a tourist in a frenzied Phuket nightclub attack, and a teenager who vanished while holidaying in Thailand was arrested 6500 kilometres away on drug charges.
When adventure turns deadly
The heartbreaking deaths and hospitalisations we often see making headlines are those Aussies who have gone on holiday to let their hair down, never expecting disaster to unfold.
Dr David Beirman, a senior lecturer in tourism and risk management at the University of Technology Sydney, told news.com.au adventure can quickly turn to misadventure in Thailand.
“A lot of the people who do get themselves into trouble are people who are doing things that they are probably not qualified or skilled to do properly but they do it anyway because they’re in Thailand,” Dr Beirman said.
“You get a lot more people who risk their lives for their travels than probably many other destinations.”
Mr Beirman said Thailand attracts all kinds of travellers, but notably a younger risk-taking cohort who may “get a little bit too inebriated either through drugs or alcohol, who will also do things like ride a motorbike when they actually probably wouldn’t get a license to do it here in Australia”.
“So that puts them in more danger than other tourists,” he said. “And Thailand has a lot of territory to cover. Some roads are fantastic and many of the roads are absolutely dreadful.”
Angus Kidman described Thailand’s roads as “among the most hazardous globally, with motorbike accidents being a leading cause of tourist injuries and fatalities”.
He urged those who choose to ride to always wear a helmet, adhere to local traffic laws, and consider comprehensive travel insurance that covers motorbike-related incidents.
Mr Kidman also warned with a popular bar scene, there is the risk of drink spiking.
Dr Beirman added that in addition to general leisure travel and medical tourism, Thailand is known for its sex tourism.
“The other type of tourism which is potentially dangerous are places like Pattaya and some of the resort areas which have a lot of sex tourism, and with sex and gambling goes crime and sorts of other things,” he said. “So there are those tourists who expose themselves to that kind of tourism as well.”
Dr Beirman concluded: “I don’t believe — and I say this as a person who has been to Thailand eight times now — that it is an inherently dangerous destination but I think sometimes the conduct of some cohorts of tourists who go there place themselves in a dangerous situation and that’s probably the difference.”
Mr Kidman said travel insurance can support distressed family members in the event of an unexpected death overseas.
“If the deceased had travel insurance, insurance will usually provide a list of funeral directors in the foreign country, provide advice on local funeral services, cover costs, take care of arrangements for a local funeral service or the return of the deceased to Australia,” Mr Kidman said.
He urged those affected to contact the Australian embassy for consular assistance.
Three Australians dead within one week in Thailand
It was a deadly start to the first week of May.
On May 1, a West Australian tourist died in Phuket after it is believed he lost his footing on hotel stairs and tragically fell three floors in front of his wife, only the day before the couple were due to check out.
Sean Collins, 59, and his wife went for a night out on the bustling tourist island before returning to their room in the early hours of May 1, Asia Pacific Press reported. They were climbing the stairs when Mr Collins was said to have lost his footing and plunged three floors below.
On May 6, an aspiring Australian Muay Thai boxer had been celebrating with friends after an intense training camp when he tragically drowned while swimming off a fishing charter boat near the tourist island of Koh Racha Yai
Melbourne roof plumber Corey Walsh, 22, was due to spend four weeks in Thailand and had just completed the first two weeks of his trip before his death.
In an emotional interview with news.com.au, Mr Walsh’s younger sister Charleigh described her brother as “selfless and loyal”, revealing he had been on a much-anticipated holiday with six of his closest friends.
On May 7, a 41-year-old from South Australia was reported missing by his wife in Phuket.
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Three days later Anthony Heathcote was found dead at Freedom Beach.
A lifeguard had spotted a body drifting about 20 metres from the shoreline during his morning patrol.
Mr Heathcote’s brother, Ben Heathcote, told ABC the father of two was a “remarkable” man and an “adventurous spirit” who was on holiday when he died.
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