Thailand hotel victim had lived in NZ for seven years

A Brazilian who had been living in New Zealand died in a hotel in Thailand, where he was attending a ceremony at Patong Beach commemorating the 2004 tsunami. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A 30-year-old man who was found dead in his hotel room in Thailand is understood to have been a Brazilian who held a New Zealand driver's licence.

The man, identified as Daniel Rocha Jordan, was discovered dead in his Keeta Guest House room by a friend at about 9am on December 27, the Phuket Wan Tourism News reported.

He was originally believed to be a Kiwi, but a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman yesterday confirmed the dead man was not a New Zealand citizen. His body will reportedly be returned to New Zealand, however.

Phuket Wan Tourism News web site is reporting the man lived in New Zealand for seven years.

The night before the man's death the 30-year had taken two bar hostesses back to his room, where "two used condoms and a sex stimulant" were later found by police, Lieutenant Jakapong Lurng-On of Kathu Police told the newspaper.

The dead man and a 29-year-old friend are understood to have attended the 'Light Up Phuket' memorial, to remember the death of their friend in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

The annual ceremony held at Patong Beach involves lighting candles in the sand as a tribute to those who died in the disaster.

The two friends are then understood to have gone out in Patong and one man decided to take two hostesses back to his room.

"The man told his friend that both girls were beautiful so he decided to take both back to his room," Lieutenant Jakapong reportedly said.

Both women had left before the body was found, he said.

The 30-year-old was overweight and had other health problems, Lieutenant Jakapong reportedly told the Tourism News.