Body of missing Durban man found in Phuket

The family of 65-year-old Durban man Devendren Naicker has confirmed his death after he went missing while on holiday in Phuket, Thailand.

Naicker, from Yellowwood Park, was reported missing after losing contact with his family shortly after arriving in Thailand.

His body was found in an oil palm plantation in Patong on Friday afternoon, 13 November.

Collected evidence

Police, forensic officers and medical personnel attended the scene and collected evidence.

The clothing found on the body reportedly matched what Naicker was wearing when he disappeared.

The family has confirmed Naicker’s passing but has declined to comment further. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

Last contact with his family

Naicker arrived in Phuket on 6 November and checked into the Bel Aire Hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road.

He reportedly left his room that evening and never returned. He was reported missing on 9 November after his family became concerned when they could no longer reach him.

He had been scheduled to leave Thailand on 13 November.

His daughter, 35-year-old Lavanya Naicker, previously said her concerns grew when his cellphone remained switched off and attempts to contact him proved unsuccessful.

The family contacted the hotel, which provided CCTV footage showing Naicker leaving the premises and walking towards a nearby market.

However, the footage did not show him returning.

Hotel staff reportedly searched his room but could not find him.

Holiday years in the making

Naicker had looked forward to the trip for several years.

According to his daughter, he had originally planned the holiday to celebrate his 60th birthday but postponed it after his wife died in 2021, shortly before the planned celebration.

He eventually decided to travel to Thailand this year and had invited his daughter to accompany him, but she was unable to join him because of work commitments.

Lavanya was preparing to travel to Thailand to help with the search when she received the devastating news.