A 25-year-old British man, Liam White, passed away under unclear circumstances in Thailand after a night out. White, originally from Maghull in Merseyside, was residing at a hostel in Bangkok when the incident occurred. Prior to his demise at Hostel 24 Backpackers 50 in Bang Chak, Bangkok on January 13, White had been out the night before, as indicated during an inquest held at Bootle Town Hall.
The inquest report mentioned that White had reserved accommodation at the hostel three days before his death and was sharing a dormitory with multiple individuals. Following his demise, conflicting outcomes emerged from two post mortems conducted. A post mortem in Thailand attributed his death to natural causes, specifically cardiac failure coupled with infective pneumonia, as detailed in the coroner’s report. However, a post mortem in the UK classified the cause of death as unascertained.
The assistant coroner highlighted discrepancies between the Thai and UK post mortem results. The Thai examination reported cerebral edema and brain hemorrhage, while the UK assessment indicated the heart size as normal. Discrepancies included the presence of infection in the lungs, as noted in the Thai post mortem but not confirmed in the UK examination. Additionally, traces of morphine and codeine were found in White’s blood, potentially impacting respiratory function, especially in the presence of a chest infection.
Due to the inconclusive medical evidence and contradictions, the coroner could not definitively determine the cause of death. Therefore, an open verdict was recorded. White’s funeral reportedly took place at West Lancashire Crematorium in Burscough on January 31 after his repatriation. A GoFundMe campaign raised £5,000 to assist White’s family with repatriation expenses.