A former Thai national swimmer who had been missing for two days was found dead in a wooded area beside an irrigation canal in Saraburi province on Sunday.
Kritin Sriphom, 34, a resident of Sao Hai district, Saraburi, had been working as a swimming instructor. His family said they had no questions about the circumstances of his death.
His body was found on Sunday in tall grass beside an irrigation canal after his family instigated a search via social media when they were unable to contact him.
Kritin had left a friend’s house in Ban Mo district about 11pm on Friday, riding a grey Honda ADV motorcycle with no licence plate. His body was found lying face down and showing early signs of decomposition, with severe head and face injuries.
His damaged motorcycle was found about 10 metres further along the roadside.
Relatives later arrived at the scene to identify the body, and performed a traditional ceremony, burning incense to invite Kritin’s spirit home.
Jirawat Sondouang, a volunteer with Duang Tawan Rescue in Ban Mo district, said Kritin regularly visited his elder brother’s home in the district and they went fishing together.
He said Kritin left his brother’s house about 11pm on Friday. The following morning they learned that he had not returned home.
Relatives and rescue volunteers searched for him throughout the night, checking surveillance camera footage along routes they believed he might have taken on his journey home and searching along the roadside, but found no trace of him.
Mr Jirawat said when the search resumed later they stopped at a roadside noodle shop for a meal. He was crossing the road to return his bowl when he saw Kritin’s body lying beside the road near the irrigation canal.
He said it was initially assumed Kritin had lost control of his motorcycle and crashed off the road into the area beside the canal.
Kritin’s father, retired army officer Narong Sriphom, 65, said his son had served in the military before leaving to work as a swimming instructor.
He said Kritin had been a member of Thailand’s national finswimming team, a discipline in which athletes swim using fins, and had represented Thailand at the Southeast Asian Games in Laos.
The family did not suspect foul play after reviewing camera recordings of Kritin’s journey, Mr Narong said.
The family is awaiting the official autopsy report to confirm the cause of death and will then collect the son’s body for funeral rites.
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