Stephen Ashton, 22, reportedly killed after getting caught in gang crossfire while dancing at beach bar on Koh Phangan
A British tourist has been shot dead at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand after getting caught in the crossfire of a gun fight between two local gangs.
Stephen Ashton, 22, is said to have been killed as he danced with friends at a beach bar on the island of Koh Phangan.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed the identity of the dead man as Ashton, and said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Thailand on New Year's Eve and we are providing consular assistance to the family."
Police Colonel Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of Koh Phangan station, 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.
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. 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 in recent years. 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."
The Bangkok Post said police on the island launched a search for a 26-year-old suspect shortly after the shooting. The man had apparently gone into hiding in the island's mountainous interior. A short time later officers were reported to have made an arrest and recovered a homemade gun.
Sophie Harwin, a graphics editor from Surrey, spent New Year's Eve nearby but had left the area by the time the shooting occurred. "I just met someone who said that loads of people were trying to save him. Very sad."
Tributes to Ashton were posted on social networking sites as news of the shooting spread.
Aaron Kelly wrote on Facebook: "Horrible news. Be good up there mate."
Jaydon Gibbs said on Twitter: "My heart is with his family. The nicest guy RIP Stephen Ashton xx."
Another Twitter user, Dean DeRosa, said: "Worst news for the start of 2013 ! R.I.P Stephen Ashton ! Was a good lad !!"
Robbie-Cameron Gray took to Ashton's Facebook page to express his grief and posted a photograph of the two of them as young boys. "Don't want to believe it. Still got photos of us on my wall from football and school. Will miss you mate."
Neighbour Dawn Mason, 48, last night described Ashton as a "very normal, likeable young man".
His family moved to Purley, south London, about three years ago, she said. "They've always been very nice neighbours. I went to the house and the family just seem in complete shock."
Ashton's mother, Diane, was flying back to Britain from a skiing trip following news of her son's death, Mason said.
Members of Ashton's family said on Tuesday night they were too distraught to speak.
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Guardian