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| Mother of Briton killed in Thai New Year's Eve party prepares to fly to Thailand | Mother of Briton killed in Thai New Year's Eve party prepares to fly to Thailand |
| (4 months later) | |
| The family of the British tourist who died after being caught in crossfire at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand have said they are "completely devastated" by his death. | The family of the British tourist who died after being caught in crossfire at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand have said they are "completely devastated" by his death. |
| In a statement Stephen Ashton's family said he had been an innocent bystander enjoying New Year's celebrations when he was hit by a stray bullet fired into a crowded bar on the island of Koh Phangan. | In a statement Stephen Ashton's family said he had been an innocent bystander enjoying New Year's celebrations when he was hit by a stray bullet fired into a crowded bar on the island of Koh Phangan. |
| "As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives. He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances … He will be truly missed by his family but also by the many friends he made during his life." | "As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives. He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances … He will be truly missed by his family but also by the many friends he made during his life." |
| The family said the 22-year-old, who worked in the City, had been enjoying a holiday with friends after a difficult period following the loss of his father, who died in 2011 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. | The family said the 22-year-old, who worked in the City, had been enjoying a holiday with friends after a difficult period following the loss of his father, who died in 2011 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. |
| "We were all so proud of him; he was a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew … We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life." | "We were all so proud of him; he was a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew … We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life." |
| Police in Thailand have arrested a man in connection with the killing. Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of police on Koh Phangan, said officers had confiscated a gun and expected to charge the suspect with manslaughter. | Police in Thailand have arrested a man in connection with the killing. Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of police on Koh Phangan, said officers had confiscated a gun and expected to charge the suspect with manslaughter. |
| Ashton, from Purley, south London, was reportedly shot as he danced with friends at a beach bar on the island. Kittakarn told the Bangkok Post that Ashton was with a group of friends and 300 other tourists at the 2013 countdown party at the Zoom Bar on Haad Rin beach when he was shot by a homemade gun early on Tuesday. | Ashton, from Purley, south London, was reportedly shot as he danced with friends at a beach bar on the island. Kittakarn told the Bangkok Post that Ashton was with a group of friends and 300 other tourists at the 2013 countdown party at the Zoom Bar on Haad Rin beach when he was shot by a homemade gun early on Tuesday. |
| According to witnesses who spoke to police investigators, an argument broke out between two groups of locals at the Zoom Bar, one of the many beachside venues that line Haad Rin. | According to witnesses who spoke to police investigators, an argument broke out between two groups of locals at the Zoom Bar, one of the many beachside venues that line Haad Rin. |
| As one of the men walked away from the bar he reportedly pulled out a gun and fired into the crowd, hitting Ashton in the chest. Ashton was taken to Bandon International hospital but could not be revived. | As one of the men walked away from the bar he reportedly pulled out a gun and fired into the crowd, hitting Ashton in the chest. Ashton was taken to Bandon International hospital but could not be revived. |
| The Bangkok Post said Ashton had been visiting the island with four or five friends and was staying at Pink Bungalow near the scene of the shooting. | The Bangkok Post said Ashton had been visiting the island with four or five friends and was staying at Pink Bungalow near the scene of the shooting. |
| It was reported that Ashton's family had travelled to Thailand and were on the way to Koh Phangan to identify his body formally and make arrangements for his repatriation. But speaking outside the family's Surrey home, a family friend said Ashton's mother, Diane, had flown back to London from a skiing holiday and was still waiting to hear from the Foreign Office before travelling to Thailand. | It was reported that Ashton's family had travelled to Thailand and were on the way to Koh Phangan to identify his body formally and make arrangements for his repatriation. But speaking outside the family's Surrey home, a family friend said Ashton's mother, Diane, had flown back to London from a skiing holiday and was still waiting to hear from the Foreign Office before travelling to Thailand. |
| "Diane is waiting for the Foreign Office for advice. She is being totally guided by the Foreign Office," the friend said. | "Diane is waiting for the Foreign Office for advice. She is being totally guided by the Foreign Office," the friend said. |
| Koh Phangan has been a popular destination for British backpackers and hippies for decades, but in recent years it has established itself as a mainstream party venue with hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world flocking to the island for its famous "full moon" parties. Locals had been bracing themselves for a deluge of extra tourists at the weekend because the full moon – which fell on Friday – coincided with the new year celebrations. According to tourism officials, 80,000 turned up for Friday's full moon party and tens of thousands more were expected to see in 2013 at Haad Rin. | Koh Phangan has been a popular destination for British backpackers and hippies for decades, but in recent years it has established itself as a mainstream party venue with hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world flocking to the island for its famous "full moon" parties. Locals had been bracing themselves for a deluge of extra tourists at the weekend because the full moon – which fell on Friday – coincided with the new year celebrations. According to tourism officials, 80,000 turned up for Friday's full moon party and tens of thousands more were expected to see in 2013 at Haad Rin. |
| The island's growing popularity has led to increased wealth but also growing security fears. The Foreign Office says seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009, and it picks out Koh Phangan as a potential flashpoint. | The island's growing popularity has led to increased wealth but also growing security fears. The Foreign Office says seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009, and it picks out Koh Phangan as a potential flashpoint. |
| Its official travel advice states: "Western tourists have been victims of vicious unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan. These attacks are particularly common around the time of the full moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin. Exercise caution when walking in this area at any time, especially after dark." | Its official travel advice states: "Western tourists have been victims of vicious unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan. These attacks are particularly common around the time of the full moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin. Exercise caution when walking in this area at any time, especially after dark." |
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