On the night of March 20th, 2024, the serene journey to one of Thailand’s most controversial islands turned into a nightmarish ordeal for a young British backpacker, Shona Morgan, and her Canadian boyfriend, Ryan Joseph Ralph. The couple, embarking on what was supposed to be a celebratory trip to Koh Tao, also known as “Death Island,’” faced an unimaginable tragedy when Ralph met with a fatal accident.
Ralph, a 24-year-old from Kingston, Ontario, and Morgan, a 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, had boarded an overnight train from Bangkok with sights set on the southern island. Known for its natural beauty but marred by a series of tourist deaths, Koh Tao was their destination of choice to celebrate Ralph’s birthday. Ralph had been in the country since February 17, and Shona had flown in for his birthday. However, the journey took a devastating turn when Ralph, stepping away for a cigarette in the early hours, never returned to his sleeping partner.
As the train hurtled through the Thai countryside, Ralph, venturing to the end of the carriage where safety measures like doors or barriers are often absent, is believed to have tragically fallen from the moving train and was briefly dragged under the train. The following day, his body was discovered under a newly constructed platform at the Chet Samian Railway Station in Ratchaburi province, with severe injuries to both legs indicative of a fall and subsequent blood loss. He had been dead for at least five hours when he was found.
Ralph’s grim fate was pieced together by local police, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Rathnont Kasemchaisit, who surmised that Ralph had attempted to crawl under the platform to escape further injury from the moving train. Kasemchaisit noted, “The Canadian did not die instantly. He managed to crawl under the platform but died of blood loss later on.” This statement highlights Ralph’s agonizing final moments, alone and injured.
The discovery was made by a Cambodian rail worker, Makala, who was accustomed to taking breaks under the platform. The morning’s grim find was far from the usual quiet of his rest spot. “I thought he was sleeping at first. When I took a closer look, he was not breathing. I was scared, so I rushed to inform my supervisor about it,” Makala recounted, emphasizing the shock and unexpected nature of the discovery.
Ralph’s tragic accident casts a shadow over Thailand’s railway system, already notorious for its aging infrastructure and safety standards. This incident is not isolated; the route to the southern islands of Thailand has witnessed similar tragedies in the past, including the deaths of other young travelers who ventured too close to the open doors or poorly lit platforms.
Koh Tao, the intended destination of the young couple, has been at the center of controversy for years. Dubbed ‘Death Island’ after the unsolved murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014, the island has been scrutinized for its handling of tourist deaths. The local police and a powerful clique of island families have faced accusations of covering up incidents to protect the tourism industry, a vital source of income for the region.
In the wake of the accident, the details of which have been pieced together by local authorities, the Canadian Embassy has been notified, and Ralph’s body has been sent to the Forensic Institute for further examination.
