24-year-old Canadian tourist dies after falling from moving train in Thailand

The tourist is believed to have been injured after falling from the train. (representative picture)

A Canadian tourist died after falling from a moving train en route to the “Island of Death” in Thailand on Wednesday.according to independentRyan Joseph Ralph, 24, was traveling with his British girlfriend Shona Morgan, 22, when he fell from an overnight train departing from Bangkok on March 20. Ms Morgan flew to Thailand to be with her boyfriend, who had been traveling in the country. I went abroad for just over a month to celebrate his birthday. The couple were trying to travel to Koh Tao in southern Thailand when tragedy struck.

A few hours into the journey, Ralph left his girlfriend asleep while he smoked a cigarette at the back of the carriages, many of which had no doors or railings.according to independentThe tourist is believed to have been injured after falling from the train and being pulled briefly along the tracks.

Ms Morgan said she woke an hour later to find he was missing and raised the alarm. Nearly 200 police and rescue workers subsequently joined the search and rescue operation for the 24-year-old man. Police believe the tourist lost his footing while the train was still moving and dragged himself underneath to escape the wheels. However, he later collapsed and died from blood loss, the outlet reported.

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The couple had planned to celebrate Mr Ralph’s birthday on Koh Island, which was dubbed the “Island of Death” after two British tourists were murdered in 2014. He was found dead under a newly constructed platform at a station in Ratchaburi province on Thursday. He was found with serious injuries to both legs, police said.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Rathnont Kasemchaisit said: “He had a wallet in his pocket containing various documents and Thai banknotes.” He added: “From the preliminary investigation, no traces of an attack were found.”

Separately, a railway worker said he was shocked when he found the 24-year-old dead.

Meanwhile, there have been a series of deaths on Thai trains, often blamed on poor safety standards. In 2014, a 19-year-old man died after falling from a train on the same line, the outlet reported. In 2017, a 20-year-old British tourist was also admitted to intensive care after falling from a moving train on the same journey.