Thailand’s ‘death island’ Koh Tao claims ANOTHER victim as holidaymaker, 33, becomes the eleventh person to die in mysterious circumstances
A TOURIST has become the eleventh person to die in unexplained circumstances on Thailand's notorious 'death island'.
Alexandr Bucspun was found dead in the sea floating off the coast of Koh Tao on Tuesday morning near the Sairee Beach where Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in 2014.
Police recovered Mr Bucspun's body and took it to the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan where it was then transferred to the mainland and on to a police hospital in Bangkok for a postmortem examination.
Police today said they believe the Moldovan holidaymaker accidentally drowned in the sea but they are interviewing witnesses and checking CCTV.
He is believed to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was finally hauled ashore.
Provincial police commander Apichart Boonsriroj said: ''His death was caused by drowning. We believe it was most likely an accident. At this moment, we have not found any link to criminal actions.''
Officials have said they contacted the Embassy of The Republic Of Moldova to inform Mr Bucspun's family.
Immigration records show he entered the country on September 26 before travelling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club.
Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted.
They recovered the body later on Tuesday morning after a search began at first light.
Thai 'death island's bloody role call of victims
Thai authorities say IT manager Ben Harrington, 32, broke his neck when he crashed into an electricity pylon on a night-time moped ride on the island in August 2012.
But his mum believes he was mugged as wallet and watch were missing.
A UK autopsy later discovered Ben died of a transected aorta — a rupture of the body’s largest artery — rather than a broken neck.
Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Year’s Day 2014.
Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, of Jersey were bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel room late at night.
Hannah was also raped in the attack in September 2014.
Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island on New Year's Day 2015.
His death was ruled as suicide but police could not explain why his hands were tied behind his back.
Later that month, graduate Christina Annesley, 23, was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. However, no toxicology report was conducted.
In March 2015 Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in mid-February - sparking a police search.
She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 – but failed to do so.
A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind.
Bricklayer Luke Miller was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach in January 2016.
His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up.
Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanged in the hills on the island on April 28, 2017.
German Bernd Grotsch, 47, was found dead at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao.
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
Aran Klaewklong, a security guard from Big Blue Diving shop, told police he found a mobile phone, clothes, a hotel key, shoes and an ID on the beach at 1.30am during a beach patrol.
The items were still there are 3am and he called police, who identified them as belonging to the Moldovan.
Major General Apichart said there were no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the Muay Thai gym where the tourist had been staying.
He added: "Police are investigating the death thoroughly by speaking to witnesses and checking cameras from the area. A full autopsy will show the cause of death."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.