Matthew Winder from Newcastle, was visiting the holiday island of Phuket on a five-day solo trip to add to his array of facial tattoos when he died around midday on Monday morning. The family of an Australian man found dead inside a Thai police cell now faces the daunting task of getting his body back home.
Police were called to the busy Kathu district, where Winder was found to be “intoxicated by alcohol or drugs” at around 5 am Monday morning. He was arrested for being “drunk and disorderly” and was reported to have yelled at hotel guests.
The body piercer was left unattended at 11:30 am while a guard went to lunch and when he returned to the second-floor cell he made the grim discovery. The family is now working to return his body to Australia, with one of his close friends setting up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs.
Matthew Winder Age
Matthew Winder was 31 years old.
Matthew Winder died in a Thai jail cell facing the grim task
The fundraiser has already reached the goal of $15,000 to help with his repatriation and “the proper burial he deserves.” The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they are providing “consular assistance” to Mr. Winder’s family and sent condolences to his loved ones.
His loving partner Ayla Varoxis and her 10-month-old daughter were eagerly awaiting his return and she told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that he “told me he was drinking too much and just wanted to be home.”
Thai authorities ruled his death a suicide, but Varoxis insisted she had not taken her own life and that she fully intended to go home as planned on Tuesday. “I think I shouldn’t have left him alone in the state he was in,” she said.
‘I don’t think Matty was suicidal. I spoke to him five hours before the incident. 30 minutes before being arrested. ‘Yes, he was intoxicated. But he just wanted to go home. He was not suicidal. His friends echoed the same sentiment, stating that there was probably much more to the story.
“Suicide my ass,” a friend wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. ‘What joke is the police on him? As if he quickly committed suicide in the half hour the guard has a break. Liars.’ Another friend said: ‘Devastating news, I am devastated to hear this. And I sincerely believe that there is something wrong with the story.
Thai police have confirmed that an autopsy will be carried out and that an official investigation is underway into Winder’s death. On Sunday night, some 24 hours before he was arrested, Winder posted a video of Patong Beach on social media, captioned: “Good evening, Thailand.” I miss my Ayla Varoxis.
Three days earlier, he had assured her girlfriend that he couldn’t wait to fly back to Newcastle, north of Sydney in NSW, to see her and her little daughter McKenzie.
“Okay, you can go home now,” Ms. Varoxis wrote on social media. ‘He is too calm without you and I miss my shadow too much.’ Mr Winder replied, “Only a few days till I’m gone honey I wish I was home right now xoxox I love you to bits.”
Other photos and videos showed him smoking cigarettes on the beach, drinking cocktails, smoking bongs, and hanging out in clubs overlooking Phuket. Ms. Varoxis commented: ‘Well earned break. I love you and miss you.’ For 24-hour confidential support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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