In a devastating development, the body of missing British national Joshua Kershaw has been located in Thailand, ending a nine-day search for the young man from Grimsby. His mother, Jenny, confirmed the tragic news in a heartbreaking social media update.
Search Ends in Tragedy
Joshua Kershaw was last seen in the popular tourist destination of Pattaya, Thailand, on January 12. The 26-year-old had been travelling alone and was scheduled to board a flight home from Bangkok on January 19 at 8:30 PM local time. When he failed to appear for his flight and ceased all communication with his family, authorities launched an intensive search operation.
Family's Desperate Appeal
The UK Foreign Office classified Joshua as a high-risk missing person, prompting his concerned family to launch a public appeal for information. A GoFundMe page was established to support search efforts, drawing attention from both British and Thai communities. His mother, Jenny, who resides in Wakefield, had been actively coordinating efforts to locate her son.
This morning, Jenny shared the devastating update on Facebook, writing: "As much as my heart is breaking right now. We have now located Josh. But unfortunately he was not alive. We are now trying to get his body back to the UK."
Community Response and Support
The announcement prompted an outpouring of grief and support from friends, family, and well-wishers. One respondent expressed: "So sorry Jen, thinking of you all right now. Been thinking of you all week, was praying he was safe. So sad, RIP Josh." Another added: "Absolutely heart breaking Jen. Thinking of you, your beautiful girls and family! Sending you all so much love."
A further tribute read: "Absolutely devastated for you all what a gorgeous boy he was inside and out. You've got this Jenny. you've got all of us. Love you so much."
Ongoing Investigation and Repatriation
The circumstances surrounding Joshua's disappearance and death remain under investigation by Thai authorities, with the UK Foreign Office providing consular assistance to the family. The focus has now shifted to repatriating his remains to the United Kingdom, a process that involves complex international protocols.
Joshua's family had previously expressed concern when he failed to make contact after arriving in Thailand, highlighting the anxiety many families experience when loved ones travel abroad. This tragic outcome underscores the vulnerabilities faced by solo travellers in foreign destinations.
