Brutal news out of Thailand this week as a British man collapsed and died just moments after his first Muay Thai fight in Koh Samui.
Joseph Itai Rinomhota, 30, fought a local at the Samui International Muay Thai Stadium, for his debut bout.
During the third round, the referee stopped the fight after Joseph was kicked by his opponent in the right side of his rib cage, according to local media outlet Khaosod English.
Apparently he was able to leave the ring on his own but began to experience laboured breathing before he collapsed. His coach attempted CPR at the scene while waiting for the emergency services.
Joseph was pronounced dead at around 11pm and a report from superintendent Col. Den Duang Thongsrisuk of Bo Phut confirmed police were notified shortly afterwards.
Joseph’s brother, Cardiff City footballer Andy Rinomhota, paid tribute to his brother on Instagram:
“Nothing could’ve prepared me for what’s happened and no words or pictures are going to be enough to show or express the love I have and will always have for you my brother.
“I’m hoping this will help to heal the pain even if only slightly.
“You were the most driven and positive minded person I know, always pushing for more and never settling for the minimum, always looking for that next thing to try and achieve.
“You lived life to the fullest and I know you’d have no regrets even now. As a brother they don’t come better than you, caring, kind, supportive, the list is endless, you always looked after me in every way possible and I should’ve told you more just how much that meant to me.
“I know you’ll continue to watch over me and provide me with the strength and love you always have. You’ll be with me doing the things we had planned to do together, you will always be in my heart and never forgotten.”
And the last message he sent his brother before the tragedy:
Awful stuff. Unfortunately no official cause of death has been determined just yet, but it would be interesting to know what exactly happened to Joseph. It seems unlikely that a kick to the ribs (for which the ref stopped the fight) could have led to his death, but who knows? Was there a prior medical condition? Did heat exhaustion play a part? Did he take any other particularly severe knocks earlier in the fight?
Apparently the autopsy has been carried out and authorities are now awaiting the results to establish the exact cause of death, and are coordinating with the British Embassy and Joseph Rinomhota’s family. Just such a sad way to go for a 30-year-old man bravely trying his hand at something new. RIP Joseph and thoughts with his friends and family.
For the 28-year-old British man recently beaten to death by bouncers in Bangkok, click HERE.
