PHUKET — 18 June 2026, a 22-year-old British undefeated professional boxer has died after suffering severe head injuries when he fell from a tuk-tuk in Patong, Kathu district, Phuket, his boxing club has confirmed.
Colin Cairney, a championship-winning boxer, had remained in a coma while receiving intensive treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital since the incident in the early hours of Sunday.
International media reports later confirmed that Cairney had died. In a statement, his club, 1314 Boxing Club, paid tribute, stating: “He wasn’t just a member of the club; he was family. He was a huge part of Team 1314 and meant so much to so many people.”
According to CCTV footage and information from hotel security personnel, before the incident Cairney had taken a red tuk-tuk from an entertainment venue back to his hotel. However, a dispute arose over the fare because he did not have cash to pay. He then agreed with the driver to return and withdraw money from an ATM to pay for the ride.
CCTV footage later showed the tuk-tuk travelling back towards Patong at around 04:02 without turning into the hotel to drop off the passenger. Cairney subsequently fell from the rear of the vehicle and struck his head on the road, suffering critical injuries.
Lt. Col. Surachart Thongyai, an investigator at Patong Police Station, said preliminary inquiries indicated that Cairney had travelled to Phuket with relatives and British friends. He said alcohol may have been a factor, as friends who arrived at the hospital also appeared intoxicated. Officers have collected blood samples for testing for alcohol and narcotics, with official results still pending.
Based on testimony from a hotel security guard, the victim had unsuccessfully attempted to exchange a card for cash at the hotel. As a result, he left to withdraw money to pay the fare, which was estimated at 300 to 400 baht (9.16 to 12.25 USD). A woman was seen leaving the hotel with him, although investigators have not yet confirmed whether she was in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
Furthermore, CCTV footage showed Cairney falling from the vehicle alone and provided no evidence that he had been assaulted, dispelling earlier speculation surrounding the case. Meanwhile, the tuk-tuk driver did not stop to assist him after the incident.