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Stephen Ashton Thailand death: Arrest after British tourist shot Stephen Ashton Thailand death: Arrest after British tourist shot
(about 2 hours later)
A man has been arrested after a 22-year-old British tourist was shot dead in Thailand on New Year's Eve.A man has been arrested after a 22-year-old British tourist was shot dead in Thailand on New Year's Eve.
Stephen Ashton was reportedly caught by a stray bullet during a fight between two groups at a bar on Koh Phangan.Stephen Ashton was reportedly caught by a stray bullet during a fight between two groups at a bar on Koh Phangan.
Police on the island said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun.Police on the island said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun.
Mr Ashton was attending a new year event on the island. Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan is a popular backpacker destination for its full moon parties.
According to the Bangkok Post, Mr Ashton was shot in the upper body in the early hours and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.According to the Bangkok Post, Mr Ashton was shot in the upper body in the early hours and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Foreign Office said it was aware of the death of a British national in Thailand, and was providing consular assistance to the family. The Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance to Mr Ashton's family.
It later confirmed the dead man's name. 'Completely devastated'
A statement issued by the Foreign Office on the family's behalf said: "As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives.
Even the official Koh Phangan tourist website says "violence is frequent" on the island, and warns foreigners to walk away from any potential conflict with local people.
The Thai police say Stephen Ashton was simply very unlucky to be caught by a bullet fired during a fight between two Thai gangs.
He was dancing on the beach at the time, at the tail end of the massive new year party on Haad Rin beach, which had attracted tens of thousands of mostly young foreign tourists.
Probably the greatest danger to tourists on Koh Phangan is posed by the vast amounts of alcohol and other stimulants during the monthly full-moon parties on Haad Rin, which have become one of the biggest attractions on the so-called 'backpacker trail' through South East Asia.
Sometimes this leads to drownings in the fierce sea currents, or other accidents.
Koh Phangan also attracts local criminal gangs that prey on the vulnerable party-goers.
There are violent disputes between these gangs which very occasionally drag in tourists; in 2007 an Israeli was knifed to death during a full-moon party brawl.
"He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying new year celebrations.
"We are comforted in the thought that he was having a fantastic time with friends after such a difficult period following the loss of his much loved dad who passed away from a brain tumour in 2011 and the loss of his granddad a few months earlier.
"We were all so proud of him; he was a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew.
"He will be truly missed by his family but also by the many friends he made during his life.
"We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life."
Advice on the Foreign Office website, updated in December, notes that seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009.Advice on the Foreign Office website, updated in December, notes that seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009.
'Dedicated and devoted'
It says western tourists have been victims of vicious unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan.It says 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," it states. "These attacks are particularly common around the time of the full moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin," it states.
"Exercise caution when walking in this area at any time, especially after dark.""Exercise caution when walking in this area at any time, especially after dark."
Mr Ashton's neighbour, Dawn Mason, described him as a "normal, likeable young man". Mr Ashton's neighbour Dawn Mason described him as a "normal, likeable young man".
She said his family had moved to Purley, south London, about three years ago and had always been "very nice neighbours".She said his family had moved to Purley, south London, about three years ago and had always been "very nice neighbours".
Mr Ashton's family said they were too distraught to speak to reporters.
Mr Ashton was a regular the Rectory pub, in Brighton Road, Purley.Mr Ashton was a regular the Rectory pub, in Brighton Road, Purley.
The pub's deputy manager Matthew Hitchmough said: "He had been coming in here for quite some time, and was bubbly - he always had friends and girls round him. The pub's deputy manager Matthew Hitchmough said: "He had been coming in here for quite some time and was bubbly - he always had friends and girls round him.
"He was a nice man - I can't say a bad word about him. "He was a nice man, I can't say a bad word about him.
"I know that a few of the people who come in go to Thailand for Christmas and new year.""I know that a few of the people who come in go to Thailand for Christmas and new year."
A former colleague, Michael Jarman, described the junior stockbroker as energetic, happy and full of life.A former colleague, Michael Jarman, described the junior stockbroker as energetic, happy and full of life.
He said Mr Ashton was "dedicated and devoted to what he wanted to do in life".He said Mr Ashton was "dedicated and devoted to what he wanted to do in life".
"He was a breath of fresh air," he added. "It's a big, big shame.""He was a breath of fresh air," he added. "It's a big, big shame."
Koh Phangan is a resort island, neighbouring Koh Samui, which draws thousands of backpackers to its famous full moon parties.Koh Phangan is a resort island, neighbouring Koh Samui, which draws thousands of backpackers to its famous full moon parties.