25-07-2025
Pictured: Australian man, 21, who tragically died on holiday in Thailand
An Australian man who died while holidaying in Thailand with friends had taken medication after suffering injuries in a motorbike crash a day earlier.
Ahmad Akkouche, 21, was found dead in a bed at The Rubber Hotel in Tambon Thepkrasattri, a northern district of Phuket, on Wednesday by a cleaner.
Police were called about 10am and arrived to find him wearing a black T-shirt and still holding his phone, according to local media reports.
Thai Police said there were no signs of a disturbance, no evidence of a break-in and no visible injuries suggesting foul play.
Police lieutenant colonel Thanom Thongpaen, from Thalang Police District, said he saw Akkouche lying on with a mobile phone resting on his chest.
'He was still on a call with someone,' he said.
'The line hadn't been disconnected and he had died like that. There were no signs of struggle or anything suspicious.
'It appeared he had been on the call for about 12 hours. The phone screen had gone dark, but we could still see the call duration and confirm he was on a call.
'We don't know who he was talking to. I tried speaking into the phone, but there was no response. The line remained active, but there was no voice on the other end. The phone was locked, so we couldn't examine it further.'
Thongpaen said there were no drugs or alcohol at the scene, but there were about '10 pills in blister packs' of over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication.
'The day before, he had a motorcycle accident and injured his elbow and wrist,' he said.
'He had asked the hotel maid to buy medicine for him from a pharmacy. He likely took the medication before he passed away.'
Thongpaen said police 'could not determine a clear cause of death', but there were 'no signs of foul play in this case'.
Akkouche was just one day away from flying home after spending several days holidaying in Thailand with friends.
He had checked into the hotel just three days earlier, on July 20, and was due to check out on July 24.
Akkouche was from western Sydney.
Loved ones announced his death in a post online.
'It is with deep sadness our beloved cousin returned to Allah,' the post reads.'Kindly remember the family and Ahmad in your Dua.
'He will be dearly missed. '
A forensic doctor was called to the hotel and took Akkouche's body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for post-mortem examination as police investigations continue.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is 'providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Thailand'.
'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,' a DFAT spokesperson said.
Investigations continue.
