EXCLUSIVE

by Joe Walker

joewalker@thekgroup.co.uk

The family of a man found dead in a Thai hotel room have slammed authorities after videos of his body were posted on YouTube.

Pictures of builder Gary Armitage slumped on the floor were also splashed on the front of local newspapers after he collapsed and died while holidaying in the resort of Pattaya.

The 54-year-old grandad, of Peartree Road, Broomfield, had been in the country for four weeks.

His daughter Suellen Armitage, a mental health nurse at the Miramar home in Beltinge, said: "Someone came into work and said they'd seen my dad's body on the internet.

"I looked myself and couldn't believe it.

"Because of my nursing background I understand how important dignity is, but there was not one bit of sensitivity from the Thai authorities.

"I didn't like the way they handled the situation at all."

Mr Armitage's body was found by friend of 40 years Douglas Miles, who said he was unaware the distressing footage was being filmed.

The 55-year-old, of Linden Avenue, Herne Bay, said: "It really is unbelievable out there.

"This little Thai bloke just put Gary in a black bag, whacked him over his shoulder and carried him off.

"I didn't know the whole thing was being videoed until I saw it on YouTube.

"Then it was on the front page of the Pattaya Daily News. You could see Gary collapsed on the floor with his leg up on a chair.

"He was only wearing his shorts and the TV was still on from where he'd been watching the cricket.

"They just don't care in Thailand. If there's a fatal car crash they'll just move the bodies to the side of the road and carry on with their day. It's so insensitive."

Ground worker Mr Armitage, of Peartree Road, Broomfield, was a regular visitor to Thailand and travelled out on December 3 last year.

After spells in hospital for treatment for pneumonia, he collapsed in room 402 of the Soi 10 Hotel in Pattaya on December 30.

Thai police found no sign of violence or injury and none of his belongings had been stolen.

His family said an autopsy in Thailand gave the cause of death as "old heart", but this week an inquest heard a second post mortem examination in Britain was unable to determine the exact cause of death.

A pathologist said it was likely to be unexplained left ventricular hypotrophy - a thickening of the left ventricle which puts added pressure on the heart.

Coroner Rebecca Cobb agreed and passed a verdict of natural causes.

Miss Armitage said: "It was pretty much what we were expecting.

"It's taken a long time to get to this point, but we're just glad it's over."

Did you know Gary? If so post your tribute to him in the comment box below.