A 21-year-old British boxer was discovered dead beside his heavily intoxicated Australian boxer friend in a hotel room in Pattaya, Thailand, early Wednesday morning, October 30, according to local authorities.
Joshua Goldstone of Britain was found lying face-up on the fourth floor of the Vogue Hotel, while his friend Jayson Tonkin, 27, from Manly, Sydney, was found in a state of drug intoxication and rushed to intensive care.
Police Lieutenant Thanawi Yarangsi said officials had initially released incorrect information about the identity of the deceased. “We have taken photos of the scene and collected all evidence. We believe he may have died from a drug overdose based on what we found in the room. We will question his friend further when he is conscious,” the police spokesman said.
Hotel staff reported hearing a commotion in the fourth-floor room before discovering the two men. Police found cannabis, ketamine, and drug paraphernalia in the room. There were no signs of assault or struggle.
Tonkin, known as “The Dingo,” moved to Thailand as a teenager in 2012 and had his first Muay Thai fight at age 15. He was scheduled to face WBC Muay Thai world number one middleweight champion Tengnueng Sitjaesairoong on October 20, but the bout was canceled due to monsoon rains.
Earlier this year, Tonkin spoke openly about his struggles with substance abuse, particularly methamphetamine, during a podcast about mental health.
Under Thai law, possession of Category 2 drugs, including ketamine, carries a punishment of up to five years in prison. More severe penalties apply for drug distribution, with possible life sentences.
Friends paid tribute to Goldstone online, describing him as a “sweet” and “fun man” whose death was a “waste of a lovely life.”
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Tonkin, who remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
In a stark admission made in March of this year, Tonkin shared an honest and unrefined narrative of his encounters with sex workers, methamphetamine, and various other substances, detailing his struggles with addiction and life evading law enforcement. In a vivid depiction of being heavily under the influence of meth, he recounts experiencing paralysis for hours along with immense pain, as though someone is crushing his skull with heavy boots and a sinister woman’s voice is echoing in his ear.
He mentioned that he relocated to Bangkok, known as the ‘wild sex capital of the world,’ at the age of 15 with his father, and he ‘lost his virginity’ when ‘a prostitute from a club’ was chosen for him.
Last week, Joshua Goldstone uploaded a photo on his Instagram featuring himself alongside Tonkin and three other men, who might be Thai citizens, enjoying a party filled with food and beer.
Just four days prior to his passing, Goldstone shared a video of him and Tonkin riding a bike loaded with cannabis plants, laughing as they navigated the streets of Pattaya at night.