Jordan Wright, a former reality TV star, was found dead in a drainage canal in Phuket, Thailand. Photo / Instagram
Jordan Wright, a former reality TV star, was found dead in a drainage canal in Phuket, Thailand. Photo / Instagram
A British former reality television star has been found dead in a drainage canal in Thailand.
The body of Jordan Wright, who appeared on The Only Way is Essex and MTV’s Ex on the Beach, was found in stagnant water near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket on Saturday afternoon.
The33-year-old former firefighter from Basildon, Essex, was filmed on CCTV outside a hotel acting erratically and running around while appearing agitated shortly before his death.
His body was later found lying face down in the ditch at around 12.30pm by a Burmese worker, who alerted officers from Choeng Thalay police station.
Wright was reportedly barefoot but wearing a grey shirt and black trousers.
His new iPhone 17 was found on a nearby bank and a key card for Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao – a 20-minute walk from where his body was found – was in his pocket.
Wright’s body appeared to have been there for some time but there did not seem to be any signs of physical assault, police said.
Officers added that there had been no sign of forced entry or disturbance at the hotel and nothing suspicious had been found in his hotel room.
Wright’s remains have been taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for an autopsy.
Officers said they were awaiting the results to determine the cause of death.
Wright ‘checked in alone’
Suthirak Chuthong, the police chief, said: “Hotel records showed that he had checked in alone and was due to check out on March 13, but staff reported that he never checked out.
“CCTV footage showed that he appeared restless and was moving back and forth in front of the hotel before leaving the area.
“His movements eventually led to the location where his body was later discovered.
“We are still waiting for the autopsy results from Vachira Phuket Hospital to determine whether drugs were present in his system.”
Chuthong added that Wright was believed to have died fewer than two days before his body was found.
Wright, who previously dated reality television star Vicky Pattison, was reportedly sacked from The Only Way is Essex in 2018 after it was claimed he was taking paid sick leave from the London Fire Brigade to film the ITV show.
Jordan Wright appeared on The Only Way is Essex and MTV’s Ex on the Beach
He announced on social media in January that he had moved to Thailand.
Wright’s friends and loved ones have written tributes to him on social media. His former manager told the Daily Mail: “He was a very good looking lad, fun, with a great, wide smile. He tried TV for a bit but DJing was his real passion, that’s what he wanted to focus on.”
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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