The family of 27-year-old Mark Robson believe a body found on Freedom Beach in Phuket, Thailand, is his. Robson was reported missing by his family last month.
Robson’s body was discovered in late January, a few days after his last bank transaction was recorded, but at the time Thai police did not make the connection between the missing South African and the unidentified body.
It’s believed a Phuket newspaper finally made the connection, after reporting that the young man’s family were still searching for him.
He was due to catch a flight to Taipei last week, but failed to arrive to start a new job as an English teacher there.
Phuket Tourist Police Foreign Volunteers group leader, Frank Tomenson, said that they had forwarded a photograph of the body to his parents, who live in Gillitts.
His family has since posted a message on Facebook, saying sadly, it was Robson’s body that had been found – and that they are devastated at the news.
“We had seen him over there for a few days while on holiday in January but lost e-mail contact after the 15 January. We are absolutely devastated to have lost our very special boy,” his mother, Merneen Robson, wrote.
Investigations into his death are continuing.
Our thoughts are with Mark’s family and friends at this very sad time.