Irish Man Found Dead In His Own Swimming Pool

November 1, 2012

A 59-year-old Irish man was found floating face down in his swimming pool by the pool cleaner in a luxury home at Phra Tamnak. There were no signs of violence or drugs. Police suspect the victim died from a congenital disease.

PATTAYA – October 31, 2012, [PDN]: At 5 p.m., a report of a foreigner who died in his swimming pool was received by Pol. Maj. Capt. Supan Sopee, the detective officer of the shift, Pattaya police station, Chonburi. He rushed to check the scene with the rescue team from Sawang Boriboon Thammasatan foundation Pattaya.

The incident occurred at house number 415/14, Golden Mountain villa 2, soi 5, Phra Tamnak, south Pattaya, moo 10, Nongprue, Banglamung. Police arrived at the luxury, multi-million baht, single story house, and found the naked body of the homeowner floating face down in the pool.

He was identified as Mr. Sean Muire Burgess, age 59, nationality Irish. There were no signs of injuries of violence on his body. Police estimated he had been dead for 2-3 hours. At the rim of the pool was a towel, a book and a cellphone belonging to the victim, which the police kept for evidence. A further check inside the house did not reveal anything suspicious.

Police questioned the pool cleaner who found the body, Mrs. Wilai Tonwanghin, age 54, of Mister Pool Service Company. Mrs. Wilai, who was hired to be a pool cleaner and gardener, told police that she had arrived at the house to clean the pool as usual. But when she opened the gate and entered, she was shocked to see the dead victim floating in the pool. So she called her boss and the police.

After their initial investigation, the police suspected that the victim might have some congenital disease, and perhaps got light-headed or passed out while in the pool, resulting in the drowning. However, the police will question more witnesses, and sent the body to have an autopsy done at the Forensic Institute of the Royal Thai police hospital.