British reality television personality discovered in drainage canal near Phuket hotel
Jordan Wright, best known for his appearances on ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex, has been found dead in Thailand at the age of 33. His body was discovered in a drainage canal near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket on March 14, 2026 .
Discovery and Investigation
The 33-year-old from Basildon, Essex, was found lying face down in stagnant water at approximately 12:30 PM local time. A Burmese worker gathering vegetables in the area made the grim discovery and alerted officers from Choeng Thalay Police Station
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When recovered, Wright was wearing a grey shirt and black trousers but no footwear. His iPhone was located on a nearby canal bank, and investigators found a keycard for the COCO Phuket Bangtao Hotel in his pocket
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CCTV footage captured Wright appearing “restless” and pacing back and forth outside the hotel shortly before his death. “His movements eventually led to the location where his body was later discovered,” confirmed Police Chief Sutthirak Chuthong of Choeng Thale district station
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Hotel Stay and Timeline
Wright had checked into the hotel alone and was scheduled to check out on March 13, though staff reported he never completed his checkout. A subsequent search of his room revealed no signs of forced entry or suspicious activity
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His body showed signs of having been in the water for some time, though investigators noted no evidence of physical assault or struggle. Police believe he had been deceased for no more than two days when found
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Cause of Death Pending
Wright’s remains have been transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to establish the precise cause of death and determine whether alcohol or substances may have been contributing factors
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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities”
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Life in Thailand and Final Days
Wright had announced his relocation to Thailand via Instagram in January 2026. His final social media post, shared on March 6, featured highlights from his time in Phuket
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While Wright had pursued television opportunities, his former manager noted that DJing was his true passion, describing him as a “fun lad” who “lit up any room with his smile”
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Tributes Pour In
Friends and fans have flooded social media with condolences. On his final Instagram post, one friend wrote: “No words. Love you Jord.” Another commented: “Can’t believe what I’m hearing. Lots of fun times and good memories with you mate. Rest easy”
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A gym he regularly attended also paid tribute: “Can’t believe what we are hearing. Oh Jord. Will cherish our times”
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Wright appeared on The Only Way Is Essex during the show’s early years but had not participated in other television productions since leaving the series.
This is a developing story. Police investigations are ongoing pending autopsy results.
