The family of 65-year-old Deven Naicker, from Yellowwood Park in Durban, has confirmed his death after he went missing in Phuket, Thailand, a week ago. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. The devastated family did not want to comment further on the matter. Naicker's body was allegedly discovered in an oil palm plantation off Phra Metta Rd in Patong on November 13.
According to reports from thephuketnews.com, preliminary findings indicated that the clothing found on the deceased matched what Naicker was wearing when he disappeared. The news site also reported that authorities were awaiting formal identification and confirmation of the cause of death. The confirmation of Naicker's death brings an end to days of uncertainty as the family desperately tried to establish his whereabouts.
Naicker arrived in Phuket on November 6, and was reported missing on November 8, after he failed to make contact with his family. He was last seen leaving the Ashlee Hotel, where he had checked in after arriving in the country. His daughter, Lavanya Naicker, had told the sundaytribune.co.za in a previous interview that her father had called her after arriving at the hotel and that was the last she had heard from him.
Lavanya Naicker, 35, a businesswoman, said her concerns grew when her father's cellphone remained switched off and attempts to contact him proved unsuccessful. The family subsequently contacted the hotel, which provided CCTV footage showing Naicker leaving the premises and walking towards a nearby market. However, there was no footage showing him returning to the hotel.
The hotel confirmed that they had not seen Naicker since the day he left, and they even checked his room, but he was not there. Naicker's disappearance was particularly distressing for the family as he had been looking forward to the trip for years. According to Lavanya, her father had initially planned the holiday to celebrate his 60th birthday but postponed it following the death of his wife in 2021.
Lavanya revealed that her father had postponed the trip when her mother passed away, and it was only this year that he decided to go. He had asked her to accompany him, but she was busy with work. Lavanya was preparing to travel to Thailand to assist with the search when she received the devastating news of her father's death.
The family is yet to make a formal statement on the matter, but it is understood that they are still trying to come to terms with the loss. The South African embassy in Thailand has not made any public statements on the matter, but it is likely that they will be assisting the family with the necessary procedures.
Key points
- 65-year-old Deven Naicker from Yellowwood Park found dead in Phuket, Thailand after going missing a week ago
- Naicker's body was allegedly discovered in an oil palm plantation off Phra Metta Rd in Patong on November 13
- The circumstances surrounding Naicker's death remain unclear pending formal identification and confirmation of the cause of death
