Birmingham diving instructor Neil Giblin is the fifth instructor to die on Thailand’s ‘Death Island’

Resort island Koh Tao in Thailand is known for its scenic beauty, coral reefs, marine life, and nightlife - but more recently it’s been given the moniker of “death island”.

Neil Giblin, a diver from Birmingham was recently found dead in one of the islands many villas - becoming the fifth instructor to die there in the recent years.

Located on Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao has become infamous for the number of tourist deaths as well.

Neil Giblin was found in the rented bungalow property on Wednesday (January 18). He was 48 years old and his friends said he was fit and healthy.

Thai police said he died from natural causes, according to the Sun. They also said they didn’t find any sign of a struggle.

A friend of Neil’s said that the diving instructor was “found in his underwear on his sofa with a blanket on him and the medics who showed up said there was nothing suspicious”.

He added: “I was told the police said straight away there was nothing to investigate. It happened so quickly. I don’t even think they did an autopsy. I talked to Neil about some of the deaths that happened here.

“He told me what everyone tells me when I mention it, that you shouldn’t be talking about that stuff around here. This just doesn’t add up to me. Nobody wants to question what the police said.”

Neil isn’t the only person from the UK to have died on Koh Tao. Backpackers David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found murdered on a beach in September 2014, according to the Telegraph.

More recently, a 70-year-old British pensioner died in Thailand’s Pattaya after being shot. Neil Roger, 70, bled to death on the road, according to the Mirror.