Coroner Orders Full Inquest into British Man's 'Unnatural' Death in Vietnam Hotel
A coroner has mandated a comprehensive investigation into the unnatural death of a 25-year-old British man discovered in a hotel room in Vietnam. Harleigh Jones, originally from Pontypridd in Wales, was found deceased in his accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2025, as revealed during an inquest hearing on Monday.
Post-Mortem Findings and Toxicology Reports
A post-mortem examination conducted at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital identified a combination of prescription medications in Harleigh's system. These included gabapentin, pregabalin, olanzapine, and benzodiazepines. Dr Jason Shannon, who performed the examination, provisionally attributed the cause of death to the combined effects of these substances.
However, Coroner Graeme Hughes expressed concerns, stating, 'I have sufficient reason to suspect that his death is unnatural. Following the post-mortem and toxicology reports, it appears that drugs were implicated in the cause of his death.' Consequently, he ordered a full inquest to proceed, adjourning the case until the investigation concludes.
Background and Circumstances
Harleigh Jones had been residing in Ho Chi Minh City at the time of his death and was employed in communications for APW, a property investment firm headquartered in Dubai. He had been working in the property sector across southeast Asia for an extended period, with his LinkedIn profile indicating he had lived in the region since at least 2023.
Following the tragic incident, his body was repatriated to south Wales, where his funeral was held in Williamstown. The case continues to unfold as authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise.
