Romford man died on holiday with girlfriend in Thailand after tragic accident

An Essex man was found dead in water after a tragic accident while on holiday in Thailand with his partner. Theo Morgan, 27, from Romford, was found unresponsive after a night out.

Mr Morgan, who previously worked for the Met Police, had been on holiday in the Surat Thani province in Thailand with his girlfriend. Essex Coroner's Court was told on Thursday (August 29) that Mr Morgan and his partner had been taking part in an organised bar crawl as part of a 10-day holiday.

Coroner Michelle Brown said Mr Morgan's partner had gone to the bathroom during the course of the night and he then wandered off, "which was a tendency when drunk". His last sighting was recorded on CCTV before then disappearing.

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The court heard that Mr Morgan is believed to have hit his head, fallen and drowned in a section of water. A post-mortem gave a cause of death as 1A asphyxiation.

Ms Brown said: "Theo had travelled to Thailand for a 10-day holiday with his girlfriend. They had been out on an organised bar crawl and whilst his girlfriend went to the bathroom, he wandered off which I'm told was a tendency when drunk.

"He was seen on CCTV and then not again. He was found in some water having drowned. It's believed he had fallen and drowned after hitting his head."

Ms Brown said the incident "was very sad". She concluded the death was due to drowning in an accident, adding: "Theo's death was most likely due to drowning whilst under the influence of alcohol."

A tribute to Theo by his family said: "Theo's accidental death has shocked everyone to their core. He was simply enjoying a night out on a holiday in Thailand.

"Theo was a hard-working young man. After achieving a degree in Animation, Theo went in a completely different direction and joined the Metropolitan Police where he served for four years.

"He then chose to join a company called RSM and began a postgraduate programme training as an auditor almost two years ago. He was working and studying hard, determined to pass all his exams."