Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Cambodian police investigate after two foreigners die at hostel

DPA

Cambodian police confirmed Tuesday that they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the mysterious deaths of two young foreigners within days of each other at one of the capital's most popular backpacker hostels.

Police from Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district said a 23-year-old British male whose name was not made available was found dead in his bed by staff at the Okay Guesthouse on October 12.

An American national whom police named as Todd Richard Wunderle, 26, was discovered unconscious by his girlfriend on Saturday in almost identical circumstances and rushed to an international clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

"I am not able to say whether these deaths were in any way drug related or not at this stage. The investigation is going on, but you should direct questions regarding the circumstances to the coroner," vice chief of Daun Penh police Sem Vuthy said by telephone Tuesday.

Okay Guesthouse has garnered praise from backpacking guides including TravelFish and Lonely Planet for its central location, friendly staff and inexpensive rooms and the bustling hostel is regularly recommended on internet backpacking sites.

A staff member of Okay who declined to be named said by telephone Tuesday that staff had been saddened and shocked by the deaths, but believed that they were coincidental tragedies and business was proceeding as usual.

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