A British tourist has been found dead in a storm drain in Thailand after going missing during a family holiday.

Fraser Wright, 37, left his relatives and went out drinking alone on the popular island of Phuket on Tuesday evening. His relatives said he was last seen at around 10pm.

At around 9am the next morning, shocked locals noticed a body floating in the shallow body of water used to carry rainwater from storms into the sea.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene but the man was pronounced dead.

Police Captain Phongsathorn Phothong from the Patong district police station said a report was received at 9.30am. 

Officers arrived at the scene with rescue workers and paramedics before the area, which is near a motorcycle shop, was cordoned off.

They discovered the body floating in the water inside the drainage ditch, which is surrounded by a metal guard rail.

Officers believe the man had been dead for roughly five or six hours. 

Police Captain Phongsathorn said: ‘We have sent the tourist’s body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a thorough autopsy to determine the cause of death before handing it over to his family for religious ceremonies.

‘We have checked the security camera and found no one assaulted him.

‘He walked into the drainage ditch by himself at around 4am and did not tell his family.

‘I received a report from a resident about the body discovery before informing his family.

‘Currently, we have to investigate further to determine the cause, while I don’t know when the autopsy will be completed.’

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.’