Perth man Michael Shane Caola found dead in Thailand apartment hours after Swedish man dies in same building
Michael Shane Caola, a 54-year-old from Perth, was found face-down in a pool of blood in a seventh-floor room at the Grand Shivalay apartment in Pattaya about 4pm on Thursday.
Upon arrival, police found broken glass and scattered pill bottles across the room, while the rubbish bin was filled with discarded medication containers and a scalp vein set box.
Caola had a cut on his left elbow from the broken glass, but police said there were no immediate signs of a struggle, local media reported.
The alarm was raised by Caola's relatives, who contacted the apartment manager, Thanchanok Prajit, after being unable to reach him by phone for two days.
When Prajit checked the room, she found it locked from the inside, with a foul odour coming from within.
She then unlocked the door and called the police.
Prajit said Caola is a frequent customer and was often seen exercising.
According to Caola's social media, he was a regular visitor to Thailand, often travelling with a woman believed to be his wife, Phatsaya Caola, who is thought to be Thai.
The most recent post showing the pair in Pattaya was shared in January.
An earlier post from December 15 showed Caola writing, 'Pattaya here we come again,' alongside a photo with Phatsaya.
The couple have appeared in photos taken in Thailand dating back nearly a decade.
Phatsaya posted a photo of the two on Facebook on Friday, writing: 'R.I.P Michael Shane,' accompanied by crying emojis.
Police said the cause of Caola's death is still unknown, pending the autopsy results.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the department is providing consular assistance to the family of the Australian who died in Thailand.
'We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,' the spokesperson said.
'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.'
Two hours before Caola's death was discovered, a Swedish national was found dead in a room two floors below in the same building.
Mika Huotari, 38, was found naked in a bathtub with a head wound after a woman was seen leaving the room with a bag.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Kamjulla of the Pattaya City Police Station acknowledged the coincidence of the two deaths but said there was 'no established link' between them.
'Since they occurred in the same building within a short time frame, we're not ruling out any possibilities and will continue to investigate,' he said.
Pattaya is a Thai coastal city long popular with tourists for its beaches and nightlife, including its adult entertainment scene.
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