A mother from Darwin was found dead in her hotel room in Thailand after consuming ‘a large amount of alcohol‘ and having sex with a German man.
Karla Drescher, a 47-year-old digital creator and operations manager from Darwin, was on ‘the trip of a lifetime’ when she died sometime on Monday.
Ms Drescher had been staying at the Sawasdee Village Resort in Phuket, where she rented the Baray Villa, according to her final Facebook posts.
Karon police confirmed to the Phuket News the New Zealand national was found unresponsive in her hotel room about 2.45pm.
Lieutenant Phirawat Yodtor said Ms Drescher was lying on her bed and there were no signs of a struggle or evidence of any injury.
Prescription medications including antidepressants were located in the room, along with three open cans of alcoholic drinks and two cocktail glasses.
Police questioned a 49-year-old German man who said he and Ms Drescher had been drinking at a bar in Kata before making their way back to the hotel about 1am.
‘She had consumed a large amount of alcohol,’ the German man told police.
Karla Drescher (above) was found dead in her hotel room in Thailand after consuming ‘a large amount of alcohol’ and having sex with a German man
Ms Drescher, a digital creator and operations manager from Darwin, was on ‘the trip of a lifetime’ when she died sometime on Monday
‘We had another drink in the room… sex and went to sleep. Around noon I I woke up when cleaning staff knocked on the door.
‘When I went to wake her, she wasn’t breathing.’
The German man called hotel staff, who attempted CPR but could not revive Ms Drescher. Police were informed and a doctor pronounced Ms Drescher deceased.
The German man tested negative for drugs and nothing suspicious was observed during a physical examination of him.
Police said CCTV and room entry records confirmed the man’s account and staff at the bar where he and Ms Drescher had been drinking had observed no unusual incidents.
The Phuket News has reported a preliminary forensic examination suggested a combination of prescribed medication and alcohol might have led to respiratory failure.
Police believe Ms Drescher had been dead for eight to 10 hours before her body was found, putting her estimated time of death between 6.30am and 8.30am.
Ms Drescher’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine her cause of death.
Prescription medications including antidepressants were located in Ms Drescher’s room, along with three open cans of alcoholic drinks and two cocktail glasses
Ms Drescher recorded her Thai adventures on Facebook, including meeting two elephants saved from a life of work to live in a sanctuary
Her son Travis Deveraux has launched a GoFundMe appeal to bring his mother’s body home.
Mr Deveraux told news.com.au he had become concerned for his mother’s welfare when he did not receive a return text message from her.
‘Sadly the way I found out was very wrong,’ Mr Deveraux said.
‘[I received] no contact from police or anyone …[I was] worried about her as she messages me everyday [but] she didn’t reply for 2 days so I called her hotel where she was staying and they said “have the police not contacted you? Sadly she has passed”.
Sawasdee Village room division manager Arpornpan Ruyan told the Daily Mail: ‘We will not be providing any information regarding Ms. Karla Anne Drescher to non-family members.’
Mr Deveraux, who also lives in the Northern Territory, launched his GoFundMe appeal on Wednesday.
‘Hello everyone, sadly my mum has passed away while on holiday in Thailand on 27/10/25 and I need help to cover the cost to get her home and for the celebration of her life for all youse to join,’ he wrote.
‘Appreciate any donations and all your guys support, you are awesome people.’
Ms Drescher had been staying at the Sawasdee Village Resort (above) in Phuket, where she rented the Baray Villa, according to her final Facebook posts
The appeal had raised $21,485 of its $30,000 target by Thursday afternoon.
The day Ms Drescher left Darwin a friend wrote on her Facebook page: ‘Trip of a lifetime! I hope you’re ready for an adventure!’
Another friend commented: ‘Have great time you are looking beautiful as usual see you soon.’
New Zealand-born Ms Drescher recorded her adventures on Facebook for the next 12 days, with her last update posted two days before she died.
On October 25 she shared a video taken while she enjoyed a herbal detox spa at the Sawasdee Village Resort.
Four days earlier Ms Drescher updated her cover photograph with a bikini picture and uploaded a video of herself on a boat.
The previous day she described realising a years-long dream to visit Maya Bay on the island of Ko Phi Phi Le where the 2000 adventure drama The Beach was filmed.
‘Has been on my bucket list, it did not disappoint,’ Ms Drescher wrote.
Ms Drescher’s son Travis Deveraux has launched a GoFundMe appeal to bring his mother’s body home. Mother and son are pictured
On October 18, Ms Drescher posted pictures of herself with two elephants and a video of her washing one of the animals.
‘Meet Linda and Pearl,’ she began that post. ‘They have been rescued from a life of work and cruelty and now reside at a sanctuary that rehabilitates them to eventually release them back into the wild.’
The previous day Ms Drescher shared a video of her getting out of bed, stretching, then donning a bikini to head to one of the resort’s three pools.
Sawasdee Village’s website describes the $288-a-night Baray Villa as offering ‘two storeys of ethereal opulence’.
‘With an indoor dip pool, outdoor private pool and sundeck leading to the main canal pool – it is a heavenly hideaway for all,’ the website boasts.
A community Facebook page for Howard Springs, 25km south-east of Darwin, promoted Mr Deveraux’s GoFundMe appeal.
‘Some people will know her beautiful smile and living life with her son,’ one member wrote.
‘Let’s dig deep and please bring our beloved friend and mother Karla Anne Drescher back home to her son Travis Deveraux .
‘A beautiful life taken away while on holidays overseas. Please share far and wide. Our love is with Travis and family right now.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Sawasdee Village Resort, the Royal Thai Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
