Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Phuket friends say Joseph James Patrick was cheerful and helpful

Phuket Regatta Death: Man Was 'Smiling Expat'

Thursday, December 9, 2010
THE MAN who died on board a Phuket King's Cup Regatta racing yacht overnight on Wednesday after a party has been named as Joseph James Patrick, 42.

Mr Patrick, a Canadian, was a well-known local resident expat who achieved some notoriety on Phuket back in August for his part in a fracas that Phuketwan headlined: Phuket Friends Fall Out, And One Loses the Fight.

A photograph of Mr Patrick, grinning widely as he was led to a Phuket police station covered in a friend's blood after the fight, brought considerable feedback from readers.

The precise cause of Mr Patrick's death on board the racing yacht, anchored off the Phuket regatta centre of Kata beach, remains unclear, but other crew have speculated that it may have been a heart attack.

Mr Patrick was found on board the 14-metre cutter Pytheas Aura, owned by Canadian Reinhard Haiber, a well-know Phuket identity who also ran the Karma Lounge, a nightspot in southern Phuket.

On Tuesday evening Mr Patrick had last been seen ashore at a Phuket King's Cup Regatta party, which he left about 9pm, apparently to return to the Pytheas Aura.

Crew found Mr Patrick's fully clothed body lying on a bunk in a latched bedroom when they arrived on Wednesday for another day's sailing.

The Pytheas Aura had been performing well in Phuket King's Cup Regatta Modern Classic class racing, recording placings. The 24th annual regatta began off Kata on Monday and continues until December 11. Today is a rest day.

Mr Patrick's death was Phuket's second recent death at sea. On November 22, the body of a Chinese tanker captain was brought ashore after he died in his sleep on a voyage to India.
Phuket Friends Fall Out, And One Loses the Fight
Update Two friends, one Canadian and one German, shared a drink on a Phuket rooftop early in the morning. Before the sun hit high noon, the pals had fallen out and fought.
Phuket Friends Fall Out, And One Loses the Fight

Phuket King's Cup Regatta Shock: Crewman Found Dead on Yacht, Police Board to Investigate
Breaking News The body of a crewman who was delegated to spend the night on a King's Cup racing yacht off Phuket was found dead by other crew members today. Police are investigating.
Phuket King's Cup Regatta Shock: Crewman Found Dead on Yacht, Police Board to Investigate

Phuket Postcard: Life and Death on Kata Beach
Photo Album Phuket enjoyed perfect weather for holidaymakers off west coast beaches today. But at Kata, where hundreds frolicked, there was tragedy as well.
Phuket Postcard: Life and Death on Kata Beach

Tragedy Off Phuket: Tanker Captain Dies at Sea
UPDATE and Photo Album The captain of a tanker bound for India was found dead in bed, so officials organised transfer of his body to the nearest port - Phuket.
Tragedy Off Phuket: Tanker Captain Dies at Sea

Six Phuket Expat Drownings, Deaths, Unrecorded
Latest A list that is supposed to include all expat deaths on Phuket for the year so far actually fails to include at least six expat deaths, four of them drownings at Karon and Kata beaches.
Six Phuket Expat Drownings, Deaths, Unrecorded

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

Judging by the "Phuket Friends Fall Out" story, I would think Phuket is better off without him.

Posted by Mike Boyd on December 9, 2010 11:42

Editor Comment:

From all accounts, that event was an aberration of the kind that occurs in many lives at some stage. We've heard mostly good about Joseph Patrick: he was always a willing contributor on the boat, happy to do more than his share of the hard work, we are told. Even if he had been bad through and through, your comment would be in poor taste, Mike. ''Evil be to he who evil thinks'' and ''Judge not lest ye be judged'' remain appropriate bits of advice.

gravatar

Judging by the company he keeps (Boat and Karma lounge owner) his heart attack should not be a surprise.

Toot toot.

Posted by Glenn on December 9, 2010 17:12

Editor Comment:

More judging, Glenn. Not always accurate.

gravatar

Well said Ed - perhaps there are others in Phuket that we would be better off without! Not good for anyone to succumb at Mr Patrick's early age - RIP.

Posted by Mister Ree on December 9, 2010 17:38

gravatar

Wow. A new low. Talking s*&# about the dead. Very difficult to read such negative comments about an acquaintance of mine and a friend of a friend. Surreal actually. I have to ask myself who would do such a thing? Mike, Glenn, your comments disgust me.

Posted by Joe Blasy on December 9, 2010 22:51

gravatar

A toxicology report will reveal the truth. (moderated)

Posted by Glenn on December 10, 2010 06:32

gravatar

None talks bad about the dead, but about their companions and reasons for dropping dead by consuming bad substances

Posted by Anonymous on December 10, 2010 18:32

Editor Comment:

So you say one thing, and immediately do the opposite. That's not just disrespect, that's gross hypocrisy. Put your name to it, shogun_th, or keep your evil insinuations private.

gravatar

Respect for the dead, please. We'll all be dead sooner or later and in my personal opinion, Joseph was a friendly guy, very positive and full of life and laughter. May we all remember him that way, no matter what mistakes he made in life.

Posted by lila09 on December 12, 2010 12:15

gravatar

As a personal friend of Joe's, he was and will always be a great friend, son, father, a companion. Joe had a heart of gold, he wasn't scared to share, or fight for what is right. He is, and always will remain OUR best friend. Rest in peace, we always love you.

Posted by Darius on December 12, 2010 13:39

gravatar

Joe was my brother from another mother, maybe, "Mother Earth" as she should be given the most respect of all, and so should the "ones" that return to her.
We All Loved You Joe and I for one will never forget you.

Posted by Robb Grouette on December 13, 2010 00:43

gravatar

Actually, Ed, I've never experienced an aberration of the kind that results in being drunk at 10:30 am. I've never been arrested for fighting and never been drenched in the blood belonging to "a mate". In fact, nobody I know has either.

Maybe your previous story about this guy titled "Phuket Friends Fall Out, And One Loses the Fight" with graphic, bloody pictures, showed him in the wrong light. I can only presume the facts were correct which is why I made my initial comment.

I apologise to those who knew him in a different light and were upset by my comment.

Posted by Mike Boyd on December 15, 2010 00:28

Editor Comment:

It must have been an interesting conversation on an interesting morning. I guess if we were all remembered for the worst mornings in our lives, some injustices would be done. Sadly, Joseph no longer has the opportunity to live it down.


Wednesday December 11, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter