Unanswered questions continue to surround the sudden death of a British man in Thailand after an inquest into his death recorded conflicting post-mortem results. Liam White, a 25-year-old joiner from Maghull, Merseyside, was found dead at Hostel 24 Backpackers 50 in Bang Chak, Bangkok, on January 13 this year.
Inquest Reveals Conflicting Medical Evidence
A record of inquest published after a hearing at Bootle Town Hall on Wednesday, July 8, detailed how Mr White had been out the evening before his death. He had reserved the hostel three days prior and was staying in a dormitory with several other people. Assistant coroner Elizabeth Wheeler wrote the document, which outlined two post-mortems with differing conclusions.
The Thai post-mortem concluded that Mr White died from natural causes—heart failure linked to infective pneumonia. However, the UK post-mortem determined his cause of death was unascertained, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Discrepancies Between Thai and UK Post-Mortems
Ms Wheeler noted: "The Thai post mortem records the presence of cerebral oedema and brain haemorrhage, but does not outline why these were not part of the cause of death. It records the heart as 'enlarged' but the UK pathologist scale records the heart within normal limits." She added: "The UK post mortem did not find the evidence of infection in the lungs which was recorded by the Thai post mortem."
Further complicating the case, the Thai post-mortem detected morphine and codeine in Mr White's blood, but the concentrations were not recorded. Ms Wheeler stated: "These drugs can be additive and cause respiratory depression - especially if there was a chest infection."
Open Verdict Delivered
Given the uncertainties and contradictions, Ms Wheeler said: "It is therefore not possible to say on the balance of probabilities what the medical cause of death is. It is therefore not possible to say how Mr White probably came by his death." She delivered an open verdict.
Mr White's funeral was held at West Lancashire Crematorium in Burscough on January 31 after his body was repatriated. A GoFundMe page raised £5,000 to assist his family with repatriation expenses.
