Former TOWIE Star Jordan Wright Found Dead in Thailand Drainage Ditch
An inquest has revealed that Jordan Wright, a former star of The Only Way Is Essex, was found dead in a drainage ditch in Thailand. The 33-year-old, who also appeared on Ex On The Beach, was discovered by a local resident in an alley in Thalang District, Phuket, on April 14.
Inquest Details and Investigation
Court co-ordinator Matthew Austin informed the inquest that Wright had been spending time in Thailand prior to his death. His body was repatriated to Essex, where a post-mortem examination was conducted at Basildon Hospital. However, the results of toxicology tests are still awaited.
Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes opened and adjourned the inquest, scheduling a substantive hearing for September 14. He expressed his deepest condolences to Wright's family, friends, and loved ones, describing the loss as tragic.
Haunting CCTV Footage Emerges
Disturbing footage captured shortly before Wright's death shows him acting erratically. He was seen sprinting back to his hotel in Phuket just before midnight on March 12, frequently looking over his shoulder. Police have stated that the circumstances leading to his death remain unclear and that it is possible other individuals were involved.
Investigators are examining whether Wright was fleeing from someone as he frantically returned to the Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao Beach, where rooms cost approximately £23 per night. In the CCTV video, he can be seen grabbing a white Toyota pickup truck to steady himself while rounding a corner before continuing to run erratically through the hotel grounds.
Discovery of the Body
Wright, who had arrived in Thailand in December on a digital nomad visa, was later found dead in a drainage canal on a construction site. A Burmese worker discovered his body two days after he was last seen, lying face down in stagnant water. The area, described as wasteland, had no CCTV cameras.
Lieutenant Colonel Sutthirak Chuthong of Choeng Thale district station commented, The circumstances leading up to the death are quite unclear. It is possible that other people were involved.
Hotel and Personal Belongings
Hotel staff reported that Wright had been staying alone with no guests and was due to check out on March 13, but they were unable to locate him. His new iPhone 17 was found on a nearby bank, and his pocket contained a key card for Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao. Officers also located his white Kawasaki motorcycle parked at the hotel, which he had been riding around the island.
Lieutenant Colonel Thongchai Matitham added that hotel records confirmed Wright checked in alone and never checked out. CCTV footage showed him appearing restless and moving back and forth in front of the hotel before leaving the area, eventually leading to where his body was found.
Background and Career Shifts
Wright, from Basildon, gained popularity on TOWIE for flirting with Courtney Green and engaging in an on-screen fight with her ex-boyfriend, Myles Barnett. He was reportedly axed from the ITV series amid claims he took paid sick leave from the London Fire Brigade to film the show. He later quit reality TV to return to firefighting, describing the experience in a 2023 Instagram post as leaving him unfulfilled, stagnant, and lost.
After rejoining the fire service as part of what he called a redemption arc, Wright transitioned to a career in financial investment. His LinkedIn profile listed him as director of London-based Hampton Gate Wealth, a boutique introducer focusing on alternative fixed income strategies.
Social Media and Tributes
In the weeks before his death, Wright posted on social media about his new life in Thailand, sharing videos of motorbike rides, beach outings, and martial arts training. A final post on March 6 showed him relaxing with wine in an infinity pool.
Tributes poured in from fellow reality stars and friends after his death was announced. His former manager, Alex Shafiq, described him as a fun lad who lit up any room with his smile, while close friend Stuart Hart recalled him as always happy and supportive.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman confirmed that officials are supporting Wright's family and are in contact with Thai authorities.
