THE family of a British tourist killed by a stray bullet in Thailand during a New Year’s Eve party spoke yesterday of their “complete devastation”.
Stephen Ashton, 22, was shot dead as he danced with friends at a beach bar in Koh Phangan. He was caught when a fight escalated between two groups of Thai men. The alleged gunman has said he “did not aim to kill a tourist”.
Mr Ashton’s mother, Diane, 48, and sister Emily, 20, were being comforted at the family’s home in Purley, south London.
They said: “As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives.
“He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations.
“We are comforted in the thought that he was having a fantastic time with friends after such a difficult period following the loss of his much-loved dad, who passed away from a brain tumour in 2011, and the loss of his granddad a few months earlier.”
They said they were “so proud” of Mr Ashton, a junior trader who had quit his job in the City to go travelling.
Mrs Ashton, a solicitor, is expected to fly to Thailand this week to meet the British ambassador and identify her son’s body. Her husband, John, 51, the director of a fish wholesaler, died in October 2011.
His illness had been diagnosed just months earlier as he was being treated for a head injury following a violent burglary at their home.
Miss Ashton told the local newspaper that her brother’s death had not yet sunk in. “It is just such a shock,” she said. “He was just on a holiday and we are just trying to come to terms with it.”
Mr Ashton was celebrating with friends at the Zoom Bar on Haad Rin beach when he was shot at 4am on New Year’s Day.
The alleged gunman, Ekkapan Kaewkla, 26, was arrested later that evening. Kietpong Khaosa-ard, the Surat Thani province police commander, said: “He was charged with murder, even though he said he did not aim to kill a tourist. Firing the gun, no matter at whom, was aiming to kill.”
Mr Kaewkla, who was also charged with illegal possession of a weapon, reportedly told police that his group was outnumbered and so he used his homemade gun to protect himself.
A re-enactment of the shooting had been scheduled to take place yesterday but was postponed due to rain. Mark Kent, the British ambassador to Thailand, is expected to visit the scene today.
Mr Ashton’s closest friends paid emotional tributes to him as they spoke of their shock.
Tayler Mitchell, 22, said: “Everyone loved him. He just went out there to enjoy himself and this is a terrible accident that shouldn’t have happened.”
Michael Jarman, chief equity strategist at CSS Partners, where Mr Ashton used to work, said: “I haven’t got a bad word to say about him. He was full of life, young, ambitious and an example to a lot of young 22-year-olds.”
Last year several British tourists fell victim to violent attacks in the Samui Archipelago, which includes Koh Phangan. A stabbing, three alleged rapes and a shooting were all reported to consular officials.
The Foreign Office warns travellers about Thai gangs on the island.