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Daily Mirror
4 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.'
7NEWS
7 days ago
- 7NEWS
Brisbane lawyer Christopher Saines dies unexpectedly after massage while on holiday in Thailand
An Australian lawyer has died unexpectedly after a massage while on holiday in Thailand. Christopher Saines, the 43-year-old CEO of Brisbane law firm GLG Legal, was found unresponsive at a massage parlour on the island of Koh Samui at about 6am (9am AEST) on Monday. According to staff at Siam Touch Massage, Saines arrived alone and barefoot, requesting a massage. '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. It wasn't until much later I realised he wasn't breathing,' a masseuse named Premyupa told police. She said she could still hear him snoring at about 4am. He was later found cold and unresponsive, with both legs hanging off the side of the bed. When emergency services arrived at around 7am, Saines was 'lying dead' with no signs of injury or struggle, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong. 'The masseuse said that he was snoring so loudly that they had to ask the guests nearby if they wanted to change rooms,' Inkong said. Police are not treating the death as suspicious. 'There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally,' Inkong said. Inkong added that a ziplock bag containing a white powder, suspected to be cocaine, was found in Saines' trouser pocket. 'We can't confirm it yet, it needs to be sent for lab analysis. 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. Authorities are awaiting post-mortem results to confirm the cause of death. Saines was reportedly holidaying on the island with his wife and children, and had been staying at the luxury beachfront Villa Mia. He had paid 400 baht (about $19) for a one-hour traditional oil massage. According to his LinkedIn profile, Saines graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology in 2006 and had been working in the legal field ever since. He became CEO of GLG Legal in 2014, following roles at several of Queensland's top law firms. The GLG website describes Saines as a leading commercial and property solicitor who was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2006. has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment. Stream free on
