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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
High power lawyer last seen with beer in hand found dead in Thai massage parlour
Successful Christopher Saines, 43, left his family in their £3,500-a-night boutique hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand, for a massage and suddenly died with staff thinking he was asleep A leading lawyer has been found dead at a massage parlour on the same Thailand holiday island where cricket great Shane Warne died. Christopher Saines, CEO of commercial and property law firm GLG Legal, was not breathing when staff attempted to wake him. The 43-year-old Australian, who has last seen barefoot enjoying a beer on his break, had visited Siam Touch Massage parlour in the southern island of Koh Samui, according to local media. Authorities - getting to the bottom of whether a white powder found in his pocket was cocaine - say initial inquiries suggest the 'deeply loved and devoted' dad died from heart failure at the property. He was on the lavish trip with his wife, Chantho, and their two children, staying at a £3,500-a-night boutique hotel. Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said his death was not being treated as suspicious. "There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally," he said. "Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible." It is claimed that after Mr Saines paid for his massage, he decided to rest on the massage bed. The masseuse continued to serve other customers, before he fell asleep. Staff member decided not to wake the high-flying lawyer until around 6am, when he was found to be unconscious when the woman attempted to wake him up. When an ambulance arrived, Mr Saines was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. 'He had just finished getting a massage, dressed, and went to the bathroom. Then, he asked to sit and rest on the bed for a moment, and he simply fell asleep,' Mr Inkong continued. 'The masseuse said that he was snoring so loudly that they had to ask the guests nearby if they wanted to change rooms. He stayed like that until around 3am, when the shop closed, and the masseuse left him to sleep in the room. "At around 6am, she came back up to wake him, but he didn't respond. She then called her friend to help check on him. That's when they discovered that he had passed away. It's believed that he died some time after 4am.' His devastated family released a statement mourning the death of a man they said 'lived with purpose, passion and drive'. It read: 'It is with unimaginable sorrow that we confirm the sudden passing of a beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, and colleague, Christopher Saines, who died earlier this week while on holiday with his family in Thailand. 'Christopher was a deeply loved member of our family and a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us. At just 43, Christopher had already made a profound impact through his professional achievements and his unwavering commitment to the people and causes he cared about most. He lived with purpose, passion, and drive.' They added: 'He was a dedicated family man and a remarkable father. He will be remembered by us as a warm, loving, and caring person. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we've received during this incredibly painful time from our friends, colleagues, and the broader public.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
New details emerge about the moments before top Aussie lawyer was found dead in a massage parlour on Thai island where Shane Warne died
A high-profile Australian lawyer who died in Thailand had been walking barefoot while drinking beer before he started feeling ill in a massage parlour. Christopher Saines was found unresponsive at Siam Touch Massage parlour on the Thai holiday island of Koh Samui about 6am on Monday. The 43-year-old CEO of Brisbane 's GLG Legal was seemingly fit at midnight when he entered barefoot and with a beer before paying $20 for a traditional Thai massage. The massage lasted until around 2am before Mr Saines went to use the venue's bathroom on the third floor, The Sydney Morning Herald revealed on Friday. However, after returning from the toilet, Mr Saines allegedly complained about feeling tired to staff who let him rest in the parlour. Workers reported hearing him snoring until 4am but, when they tried to wake him later in the morning, Mr Saines was dead. The lawyer had been staying in Thailand with his wife and other family members who have since released a statement regarding his death. 'It is with unimaginable sorrow that we confirm the sudden passing of a beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, and colleague, Christopher Saines,' they said. 'Christopher was a deeply loved member of our family and a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us. 'At just 43, Christopher had already made a profound impact through his professional achievements and his unwavering commitment to the people and causes he cared about most. 'He lived with purpose, passion, and drive.' Mr Saines was a father to two young children and his family has asked for patience and to be left alone as the investigation into his death continues. 'We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate our grief and make the appropriate arrangements.' Little has been shared about the investigation, with authorities yet to confirm which factors they are looking into regarding Mr Saines' death. On Monday, emergency services were called to the massage parlour which was just minuted from where cricket legend Shane Warne suffered a fatal heart attack in 2022. Police and medics found him on a narrow bed inside one of the shop's private upstairs rooms. Police said initial inquiries suggest Mr Saines died of heart failure The lawyer was lying horizontally across the bed with his legs dangling over the side. No foam was found around his mouth. Initial inquiries suggested the 43-year-old died of heart failure. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong said officers found a ziplock bag containing a white powder, suspected to be cocaine, in Mr Saines' trouser pocket. 'From initial field testing using police reagents, it's presumed to be an illegal drug, but we're not sure if it's actually cocaine,' he said. Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said police are not treating Mr Saines' death as suspicious. The Siam Touch Massage parlour is understood to have remained closed since Monday according to locals, the publication reports. Mr Saines had been staying with his family at Villa Mia, a $4,000-per-night hotel, which is roughly a 20 minute walk from the parlour. While there were no CCTV cameras inside the business, which offers sexual services, police found footage outside the shop which showed Mr Saines arriving. Mr Saines' wife was informed of his death at 3pm on Tuesday. His body has been taken to Surat Thani Hospital for post-mortem examination following which it is believed he will be cremated before his ashes are returned to Australia. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane lawyer found dead with powder at Thailand massage parlour
A well-known Brisbane lawyer on holiday with his wife in Thailand has been found dead. Christopher Saines, chief executive of GLG Legal on Queen Street in the CBD, was found unresponsive early on Monday morning. His family confirmed his death to this masthead. Thai media reported that the 43-year-old, who was staying in the Bo Phut subdistrict of Koh Samui, died after a massage at Siam Touch Massage parlour. Police at Bo Phut confirmed white powder was found with him. It has been sent for testing, with police expecting a result within a month. 'It is with unimaginable sorrow that we confirm the sudden passing of a beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, and colleague,' a statement from the family said. 'Christopher was … a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us. 'He will be remembered by us as a warm, loving, and caring person.'
9 News
4 days ago
- 9 News
'Deeply loved' Australian lawyer, father of two, dies in Thailand
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here An Australian lawyer and dad of two who died in Thailand earlier this week was "deeply loved" and a "remarkable father", according to a statement from his family. Christopher Saines, 43, was on holiday with his family in Thailand when he was found dead. In a statement posted on the GLG Legal website, his family wrote of their "unimaginable sorrow" at his death. Christopher Saines, 43, died on holiday in Thailand. (GLG Legal) "At just 43, Christopher had already made a profound impact through his professional achievements and his unwavering commitment to the people and causes he cared about most," the statement read. "He lived with purpose, passion, and drive." Saines is survived by his wife and two young children, to whom he was "dedicated". "He will be remembered by us as a warm, loving, and caring person," the statement read. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we've received during this incredibly painful time from our friends, colleagues, and the broader public." The statement closed with a request for privacy. In his profile on the GLG Legal website, Saines is described as "a leading solicitor in commercial and property law" who worked with some of Queensland's "most prestigious" firms. He was a member of the Queensland Law Society, and on the International Bar Association committee. Australia national Thailand World Asia CONTACT US
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Family of lawyer found dead in Thailand break their silence after 'incredibly painful' tragedy
The family of a high-flying Queensland lawyer and CEO found dead in Thailand on Monday have told of their 'unimaginable sorrow' over his passing. Christopher Saines, 43, was found unresponsive at Siam Touch Massage parlour on the Thai holiday island of Koh Samui about 6am on Monday. Police believe Mr Saines had left his $4,000-a-night hotel, Villa Mia, where he was staying with his wife Chantho and their young son and daughter, around midnight. On Tuesday, his heartbroken family remembered Mr Saines as 'deeply loved'. 'Christopher was a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us,' a statement issued by his law firm said. 'Christopher leaves behind his loving wife and two young children. He was a dedicated family man and a remarkable father. 'He will be remembered by us as a warm, loving, and caring person.' His wife is a manager at Brisbane GLG Legal where Mr Saines was the chief executive. It's understood Mr Saines' brother is a senior employee at the firm. 'At just 43, Christopher had already made a profound impact through his professional achievements and his unwavering commitment to the people and causes he cared about most,' the family added. 'He lived with purpose, passion and drive.' It's understood Mr and Mrs Saines were in Thailand ahead of his 44th birthday on July 18. Police told local media he had paid 400baht, AUD$19, for a one-hour traditional oil massage. Emergency services were called to the shop in Bo Phut about 7am after workers discovered the lawyer wasn't breathing. Initial inquiries suggest the 43-year-old died of heart failure. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong said officers found a ziplock bag containing a white powder, suspected to be cocaine, in Mr Saines' trouser pocket. 'But we can't confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis,' he said. 'From initial field testing using police reagents, it's presumed to be an illegal drug, but we're not sure if it's actually cocaine.' Masseuse Premyupa, 47, told local outlet Thaiger that Mr Saines had arrived at the parlour alone and was walking barefoot. 'After we finished, he said he wanted to lie down and rest. I left him for a while, and when I came back, he was still snoring,' she said. 'It wasn't until much later I realised he wasn't breathing.' Premyupa last heard Mr Saines 'snoring' at about 4am and claimed when she returned to wake him two hours later, he was cold and unconscious. Police and medics from Koh Samui Hospital found him on a narrow bed inside one of the shop's private upstairs rooms. The lawyer was lying horizontally across the bed with his legs dangling over the side. No foam was found around his mouth. Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said police are not treating Mr Saines' death as suspicious. 'There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally,' he said. 'Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible.' While there were no CCTV cameras inside the massage parlour, which offers sexual services, police found footage outside the shop which showed Mr Saines arriving barefoot and carrying a can of beer. Mr Saines' wife was informed of his death at 3pm on Tuesday. His body has been taken to Surat Thani Hospital for post-mortem examination.
