Successful Christopher Saines, 43, left his family in their £3,500-a-night boutique hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand, for a massage and suddenly died with staff thinking he was asleep
A leading lawyer has been found dead at a massage parlour on the same Thailand holiday island where cricket great Shane Warne died.
Christopher Saines, CEO of commercial and property law firm GLG Legal, was not breathing when staff attempted to wake him. The 43-year-old Australian, who has last seen barefoot enjoying a beer on his break, had visited Siam Touch Massage parlour in the southern island of Koh Samui, according to local media. Authorities – getting to the bottom of whether a white powder found in his pocket was cocaine – say initial inquiries suggest the “deeply loved and devoted” dad died from heart failure at the property.
He was on the lavish trip with his wife, Chantho, and their two children, staying at a £3,500-a-night boutique hotel. Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said his death was not being treated as suspicious.
“There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally,” he said. “Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible.”
It is claimed that after Mr Saines paid for his massage, he decided to rest on the massage bed. The masseuse continued to serve other customers, before he fell asleep. Staff member decided not to wake the high-flying lawyer until around 6am, when he was found to be unconscious when the woman attempted to wake him up.
When an ambulance arrived, Mr Saines was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. “He had just finished getting a massage, dressed, and went to the bathroom. Then, he asked to sit and rest on the bed for a moment, and he simply fell asleep,” Mr Inkong continued.
“The masseuse said that he was snoring so loudly that they had to ask the guests nearby if they wanted to change rooms. He stayed like that until around 3am, when the shop closed, and the masseuse left him to sleep in the room.
“At around 6am, she came back up to wake him, but he didn’t respond. She then called her friend to help check on him. That’s when they discovered that he had passed away. It’s believed that he died some time after 4am.”
His devastated family released a statement mourning the death of a man they said “lived with purpose, passion and drive”. It read: “It is with unimaginable sorrow that we confirm the sudden passing of a beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, and colleague, Christopher Saines, who died earlier this week while on holiday with his family in Thailand.
“Christopher was a deeply loved member of our family and a remarkable person whose presence brought light to us. At just 43, Christopher had already made a profound impact through his professional achievements and his unwavering commitment to the people and causes he cared about most. He lived with purpose, passion, and drive.”
They added: “He was a dedicated family man and a remarkable father. He will be remembered by us as a warm, loving, and caring person.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received during this incredibly painful time from our friends, colleagues, and the broader public.”