‘Spoke to him’: Partner’s theory after Aussie’s Thailand jail death

The partner of a NSW man who died in a Thailand jail has shed light on the final conversation she had with him, just hours before his death.

Matthew Winder died while holidaying in Thailand. Picture: Facebook @mattywinder

The partner of an Australian man, who’s body was found in a Thailand jail cell, has shed light on the final conversation the pair shared in the lead up to his death.

NSW body piercer Matthew Winder was enjoying his second last night in Phuket when he was arrested by local authorities for being “drunk and disorderly” in the early hours of Monday morning, according to local reports.

While the exact location of where he was apprehended remains unclear, the 31-year-old was taken to Patong police station and placed in a cell on the second floor to recover, according to Bangkok Post.

Just before midday (2.30pm AEST), the officer on duty supervising Mr Winder allegedly went to buy himself and the detainee lunch.

When he returned, local authorities allege the guard found the Newcastle unresponsive, with the officer pronouncing him dead at the scene.

Police claim Mr Winder was alone at the time of his death, which they suspected was a suicide, however the young man’s family refuse to believe this is the case.

Ayla 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.”

Just hours before his arrest, Mr Winder posted a loving tribute to Ms Varoxis to his Facebook stories.

The video, which was captured in the evening, shows a cruise ship out in the ocean and lights from the city as Mr Winder relaxed on the sand.

The post was captioned “good night Thailand missing my Ayla Varoxis”, and was accompanied with a heart-eyed and crying emoji. The song ‘Nevermind’ by Dennis Llyod played in the background.

The 31-year-old is being remembered as a man with a ‘lion heart’. Picture: Facebook / @mattywinder

The story follows another reel the content creator published on Saturday, featuring several photos of Mr Winder with Ms Varoxis and her 10-month-old daughter.

“Matty was an amazing man full of love for his family and friends,” Ms Varoxis said.

“He would do anything for them.”

It’s understood Mr Winder, who lived a life full of adventure, visited the holiday island to add to his collection of face tattoos before his life was tragically cut short.

Another video posted on April 21, showed the young man enjoying days at the beach, engaging in the night scene and spending time at a tattoo parlour.

Local authorities claim they have CCTV footage of Mr Winder’s death, according to the Daily Mail, however this is yet to be verified.

Mr Winder went to Thailand to add to his tattoo collection. Picture: Facebook / @mattywinder

Ms Varoxis doesn’t believe her partner was suicidal. Picture: Facebook

His body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for an autopsy. It’s understood the Australian embassy is working with authorities and Mr Winder’s family to bring him home to NSW.

The Off Ya Tree employee is being remembered as a generous man who was in a stage of his life where he was the “happiest he has ever been”

“We are all in shock by his death and feel as though Matty was let down by Thai authorities, (by) leaving him alone in a cell and going for lunch and did not attend to suicide prevention measures,” Ms Varoxis said.

“We doted over each other. He would never have left us this way.”

Another friend, who shared the news of Mr Winder’s death to Facebook, said: “devastating news. I’m shattered to hear this.”

“(I) truly believe there is something wrong with the story.”

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a statement: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Phuket.

“We send our deepest condolences to the man’s family and loved ones. Due to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further information.”