Tragic Discovery in Bangkok Hotel Room
A British family has been plunged into grief after their 21-year-old relative was found dead in a hotel room during what should have been a celebratory holiday in Thailand. Joshua Kershaw, a landscaper from Grimsby in Lincolnshire, had embarked on a week-long trip to Bangkok on January 12, but tragically never returned home.
Family's Desperate Search Ends in Heartbreak
The distressing situation unfolded when Joshua stopped responding to his mother's daily phone calls, behaviour described by relatives as completely out of character for the normally communicative young man. His mother, Jenny Kershaw, 39, grew increasingly concerned when her son failed to make contact after mentioning he was going to find some food shortly after his arrival in Thailand.
According to family statements, hotel staff made the grim discovery of Joshua's body in his bed, with a bandage visible around his arm. The young man had been deceased for approximately seven days before being found, though the exact cause of death remains undetermined pending official investigations.
Investigation Delays Repatriation Process
Joshua's aunt, Jade Kershaw, 31, from Wakefield, has revealed that the family cannot begin the process of bringing his body back to the United Kingdom until Thai authorities complete their investigation and conduct a post-mortem examination. "We want him back home as soon as possible," Jade stated, expressing the family's anguish over the bureaucratic delays.
The family had initially launched a GoFundMe campaign to finance a search mission to Thailand when Joshua first went missing. Those funds will now be redirected toward covering the substantial costs of repatriating his remains and arranging funeral services in the UK.
Remembering a 'Cheeky and Joyful' Spirit
In emotional tributes, family members have described Joshua as a "cheeky chap" who was "so full of joy" and always maintained a positive outlook. His aunt recalled that "there were never any bad moments with him," highlighting the profound loss felt by his four younger sisters who adored him.
Joshua was known as an enthusiastic traveller who would typically work for several months between holidays to fund his next adventure. He had been due to return to the UK on January 19 but never boarded his scheduled flight, prompting his aunt to make a five-hour drive to Heathrow Airport in a futile hope that he might have travelled home independently.
The family has now engaged international funeral directors to navigate the complex process of returning Joshua's body to British soil, while his mother Jenny has expressed her heartbreak on social media, confirming they have "located Josh, but unfortunately he was not alive."
