A local hotel worker passing the yacht – the Waitane II, sailing under a New Zealand flag – on a dinghy reported the death to police at about 10:30am, said Maj Thada Sodarat of the Chalong Police.

“He said that he boarded and inspected the yacht after noticing a stench emanating from the vessel, and that’s when he found the body and immediately called the police,” Capt Sodarat said.
Police believe the man had died about 10 days before his body was discovered...

* The Phuket News has been informed of the name of the person the credit card was issued to, but is withholding from publishing it until it has been confirmed that the man’s next of kin have been notified of his death.