‘Forever in our heart’: Efforts underway to bring Aussie’s body home after Thai jail death
The family of an Australian man who was found dead in a Thai jail now face a heartbreaking task as they search for answers.
As investigations into the death of an Australian man who tragically lost his life in a Thailand jail continue, Matthew Winder’s family now face the heartbreaking task of bringing his body home.
The 31-year-old from Newcastle was found dead in a Phuket holding cell on Monday just one day before he was due to return home to his loving partner and her 10-month-old daughter.
Mr Winder departed Australia last week for a five-day solo trip to the tourist hotspot to add to his collection of face tattoos.
He was enjoying the city’s night-life just hours before he was arrested by local authorities for being “drunk and disorderly” and taken to Patong police station.
The NSW body piercer was placed in a cell on the second floor to recover but was later found dead by an officer who had allegedly stopped supervising him to get lunch.
Authorities ruled the man’s death as a suicide, but Mr Winder’s family suspect otherwise with his partner Ayla Varoxis even suggesting foul play was involved.
Ms Varoxis told news.com.au she had spoken to Mr Winder five hours prior to the incident and again in the half-hour leading up to his arrest.
While she admits he was caught up in the excitement of being on a holiday in Thailand, Ms Varoxis said the thought he would have taken his own life didn’t add up.
“I don’t believe Matty was suicidal. I spoke to him … prior to the incident,” she said.
“Yes he was intoxicated, but he just wanted to come home. He was not suicidal.”
Efforts are now underway to bring Mr Winder back to Australia so his family can lay him to rest, with a close friend of the NSW man setting up a GoFundMe page in an effort to alleviate the costs.
Just under $13,000 in donations have so far been raised with almost 80 people contributing to the cause. Another $2240 is needed to reach the family’s $15,000 goal.
The kind gesture from Mr Winder’s family, friends and community comes as tributes pour in online.
“I told you I loved you in another lifetime, I found you again in this one and I’ll search for you in every lifetime after,” Ms Varoxis said in a post.
“No words were left unsaid between us, and I am so proud of both of us for getting to where we did in the time we were given. We were unbreakable and our time together has ended way too soon to even comprehend.”
Meanwhile Mr Winder’s aunt Karen Walker added in another post: “Our Family is devastated to say the least at the sudden loss of my beautiful nephew and our biggest boy Matthew Michael Winder.”
“You will be forever in our heart my boy.”
Among the tributes were dozens of pictures of Mr Winder leaving everlasting memories with members of his family and friends.
“R.i.p my brother you‘ll always be family! I love you Matty Winder, till we meet again. Look over us boys,” one friend said.
“I still remember our first holiday together at 15 … and getting our very first tattoos together,” another friend commented.
“I know under all the tattoos and past experiences you had you were the same kind, energetic, confident person.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing “consular assistance” to Mr Winder’s family during this difficult time.
Mr Winder leaves behind a life full of adventure and endless memories with loved ones through the content he shared on his social media.
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