Key facts
- British tourist Chatchawan Thongpia drowned after falling into a Venice canal.
- The incident occurred on November 3, 2025, during a holiday with his partner.
- An inquest heard Mr. Thongpia lost his balance while walking and smoking CBD.
- A witness saw his body in the water and attempted a rescue.
- Italian police concluded the fall was accidental, with no third-party involvement.
- A post-mortem confirmed drowning as the cause of death and detected a cannabinoid.
A British tourist, Chatchawan Thongpia, 31, drowned after accidentally falling into a Venice canal while on holiday with his partner, Samantha Lichfield. The inquest heard that on the evening of November 3, 2025, Mr. Thongpia left their hotel to go for a walk and smoke CBD he had purchased that day, reportedly seeking a quiet alley to do so without being detected.
Ms. Lichfield stated she became increasingly anxious as he was gone longer than expected. She was later informed by hotel staff that police were downstairs. A witness walking near Campo Santa Marina around 6:30 p.m. saw a body in the water and attempted to pull the person out from a bridge, but could not maintain their grip due to the strong current. Emergency services were contacted, and although they recovered Mr. Thongpia, he could not be resuscitated.
Italian police reports, supported by CCTV footage, indicated that Mr. Thongpia likely lost his balance and accidentally fell into the water, being carried tens of metres by the current. A post-mortem examination revealed no injuries suggesting assault or third-party involvement. The pathologist noted the presence of a cannabinoid in his system, likely consumed three hours prior, stating it was "possible but not probable" that this impaired his motor skills.