Phuket: A young British actor was found dead in a canal in Bang Tao, Phuket, raising concerns about the circumstances leading to his tragic demise. The body of Jordan Wright, a 32-year-old British national and star of the UK reality show "The Only Way Is Essex" (TOWIE), was discovered face down in a ditch in Soi Bang Tao 2, Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District.
According to Thai News Agency, the autopsy revealed no signs of assault, and a hotel room key card was found at the scene. Police conducted a search of the hotel room but found no suspicious activity. Travel records indicate that Wright arrived in Thailand on December 3, 2025, via Qatar Airways flight QR 828, with plans to return on May 31, 2026.
Hotel CCTV footage showed that Wright was staying alone and appeared agitated, pacing back and forth before abruptly leaving the hotel at around 11:25 PM on March 12, 2026. He was last seen heading towards a nearby unfinished construction site.
The police investigation found that the incident took place in a drainage canal approximately 1.6 meters deep. Measured from ground level to the bottom, the canal was about 2 meters deep, posing a challenge to climb out. Given Wright's apparent agitation, police suspect he may have accidentally fallen into the canal and was unable to escape, leading to his drowning.
Choeng Thale Police Station is continuing to gather evidence to establish the precise cause of death.