A young British boxer, aged 21, was found dead beside his Australian friend, who was severely intoxicated, in a hotel room in Pattaya, Thailand. The tragic discovery was made early Wednesday morning, October 30, as reported by local authorities.
The deceased, Joshua Goldstone, was discovered lying face-up on the fourth floor of the Vogue Hotel. His friend, Jayson Tonkin, 27, of Manly, Sydney, was found heavily intoxicated from drugs and quickly taken to intensive care.
Police Lieutenant Thanawi Yarangsi mentioned that initial reports incorrectly identified the deceased. “We have taken photos of the scene and collected all evidence. We believe he may have died from a drug overdose based on what we found in the room. We will question his friend further when he is conscious,” the police spokesman stated.
Hotel staff reported hearing a disturbance in the fourth-floor room prior to finding the two men. The police discovered cannabis, ketamine, and drug-related items in the room. There were no indications of a physical altercation or struggle.
Tonkin, known by his nickname “The Dingo,” moved to Thailand in 2012 when he was a teenager and started his Muay Thai fighting career at age 15. He was slated to fight against WBC Muay Thai world number one middleweight champion Tengnueng Sitjaesairoong on October 20, but the match was called off due to heavy rains.
Earlier this year, Tonkin discussed his battle with substance abuse, specifically methamphetamine, during a mental health podcast.
Under Thai law, possession of Category 2 drugs, which include ketamine, can lead to a sentence of up to five years in prison. More serious charges, such as drug distribution, carry potential life sentences.
Friends expressed their grief for Goldstone online, describing him as a “sweet” and “fun man,” and called his death a “waste of a lovely life.”
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently providing consular assistance to Tonkin, who remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
In March of this year, Tonkin divulged a raw and candid account of his encounters with sex workers, methamphetamine, and other substances, shedding light on his struggles with addiction and life on the run from the law. He graphically described being heavily under the influence of meth, experiencing hours of paralysis and immense pain as if someone was crushing his skull.
Tonkin also revealed that he moved to Bangkok, infamously known as the ‘wild sex capital of the world,’ at the age of 15 with his father, and he ‘lost his virginity’ when a sex worker was chosen for him.
Last week, Joshua Goldstone posted a photo on his Instagram featuring himself, Tonkin, and three other men, possibly Thai citizens, at a party filled with food and beer.
A mere four days before his unfortunate demise, Goldstone shared a video of him and Tonkin riding a bike loaded with cannabis plants, displaying their laughter as they navigated through the streets of Pattaya at night.
