British expat, 62, found dead in a Thai forest two days after his local girlfriend, 43, claims he 'ran away'
A British expat has been found dead in a Thai forest two days after his local girlfriend claimed he had 'run away'.
Terrence Cockrill, 62, was discovered next to the black strap from a woman's handbag in Nakhon Ratchasima, northern Thailand.
His girlfriend, Nanthakan Kaewsiri, 43, told police he had run away when they stopped at a service station on Tuesday afternoon after returning from a holiday together.
The officer handling the case said Terrence, who had Parkinson's disease, had previously complained that he believed 'someone was trying to kill him' and he was suffering from paranoia.
Terrence Cockrill, 62, (pictured with his 43-year girlfriend Nanthakan Kaewsiri) was discovered next to the black strap from a woman's handbag in Nakhon Ratchasima, northern Thailand
Officers (pictured at the scene) said that there was a long strand of vine on the ground near Terrence's body
Police Captain Wuttisan Pakaphonmongkol, from Udonsap District Police Station, said: 'The British man and his girlfriend were not married but they had a joint bank account together.
'He was retired and his girlfriend does not have a job. She was supported by her boyfriend.
'The English man was suffering from Parkinson's disease.
Rescue teams began to search for the British expat for two nights and used divers to scour nearby lakes
Authorities eventually located the dead body around one mile away by using a drone to fly over the dense woodland and view the area remotely
'His partner said that on Sunday he suddenly became troubled, he started having mental problems.
'He said that someone was trying to injure him, to kill him.'
Police said that Terrence, originally from Norwich, and Kaewsiri had previously lived in the UK together but they had been living in Chaiyaphum province in Thailand for two years.
Kaewsiri told police they had been driving back from a holiday on Koh Chang island to their home around 350 miles away when they stopped for a break.
She told officers she returned to the car to find he had disappeared and had torn one of the straps from her handbag.
Rescue teams began to search for Terrence for two nights and used divers to scour nearby lakes.
They eventually located the dead body around one mile away by using a drone to fly over the dense woodland and view the area remotely.
His girlfriend, Nanthakan Kaewsiri, 43, told police he had run away when they stopped at a service station (Kaewsiri pictured praying at the station) on Tuesday afternoon after returning from a holiday together
Officers said that there was a long strand of vine on the ground near Terrence's body.
But there were no physical signs to suggest the immediate cause of death and police doctors are now examining his body.
Police Captain Wuttisan added: 'The body is now at the Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima hospital to conduct a post-mortem examination.
'The officers involved will investigate more CCTV footage from the gas station and all relevant evidence.'
Police Captain Wuttisan said he had informed the British Embassy in Bangkok about the death.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand.
'Our staff are in contact with the Thai authorities, as well as his family and have provided them with bereavement advice.'