The body of John Flint, 49, was found at the second floor of the Pantip Suites Hotel in the city’s Sathorn district. He had taken a room on the 18th floor on Monday and was due to check out on March 4.

It was reported that he had suffered a fractured skull and broken limbs, indicating that had fallen to his death. A letter to his brother, Stephen Flint, was found on a table in his room.

Thung Mahamek police were alerted yesterday morning that a body had been discovered, so police officers and a forensics team were sent to |investigate.

Pol Col Akkarawut Thanirat, the local police superintendent, said neighbours had reported hearing a loud noise, like something falling to the ground, early in the morning but the body was not discovered until 8am.

Akkarawut said the search of Flint’s hotel room found no evidence of fighting or a disturbance, so police concluded that he had killed himself by jumping from a balcony.

Police have been in touch with the Australian Embassy and the dead man’s brother to obtain more information. An autopsy will be carried out at Chulalongkorn Hospital.