An American football star drowned on a dream holiday while swimming with friends in a Thai reservoir that is popular with tourists.
Jordan Scott, 31, a record holder with Colgate University in New York, died while visiting the Ratchaprapa Dam Reservoir at a nature park in the south of the country last Friday.
With temperatures reaching 95F (35C), Jordan jumped into the designated swimming area of the beauty spot and after splashing around climbed back out.
Jordan Scott, 31, (pictured playing for Warriors Bologna in Italy) drowned while visiting the Ratchaprapa Dam Reservoir in Thailand with five friends on Friday last week
Scott had been jumping into the water at a designated swimming spot when he failed to surface, sparking a police search
After four days of looking police located Scott’s body close to a floating resort and his remains have now been sent for a post-mortem examination
But after his second leap into the turquoise water, he failed to surface from the 165ft deep reservoir – sparking panic from pals who raised the alarm.
Divers began searching and finally discovered Jordan’s body four days later near the Ploenprai floating raft resort at Khao Sak National Park in Surat Thani province.
Pol Capt Somsak Ritthikul said Jordan, from Washington DC, had been on a day trip with five friends at the dam – which is popular for swimming and rafting trips among holidaymakers and backpackers.
He said: ‘Mr Scott disappeared below the surface and was never seen again. The body was recovered on Monday and sent to hospital for a post mortem examination.’
Devastated friends, family and former teammates of the lightning-fast rusher paid tribute to a ‘truly special’ person with a ‘dazzling smile’.
Heartbroken mother Stacey said: ‘Everyone who knew Jordan encountered warm smiles, big hugs, positivity and good vibes because he wanted the best for everyone.’
Officers located Scott’s body on Monday but have not revealed any more details about what caused the athlete to drown
The 165ft-deep reservoir in Thailand’s south is popular with tourists and backpackers who can learn to dive and kayak there
The reservoir is part of a nature park that is home to elephants and and other wildlife (picture, Scott feeding an elephant)
Jordan’s family have so far raised almost $40,000 to repatriate his body and cover other expenses.
They will also hold a memorial service in the U.S. for his friends and relatives once they have had his body returned.
According to football stats, Jordan amassed 5,621 rushing yards on 1,240 attempts, averaging 4.5 yards per carry over four seasons and scoring 57 rushing touchdowns before graduating in 2009.
He held the record for yards and touchdowns for ten years after his final game at the university.
Jordan’s former coach at Colgate University, Dan Hunt, said: ‘Jordan was one of the best players we’ve ever had here but also one of the better people. He made everybody around him better and made everybody feel welcome.
‘The greatest thing about him was of all the running backs we had, you could give him the ball on a Saturday for 33 or 34 carries and then Monday he was ready to practice like nothing ever happened.
Dan Hunt, Scott’s former coach at Colgate University where he set records for yards and touchdowns, praised him as ‘one of the best players… but also one of the better people’
Scott played for Colgate until his graduation in 2009 and then went on to play for Warriors Bologna in Italy’s top league from 2011 until 2013
Scott’s mother Stacey said her son was full of ‘smiles, big hugs, positivity and good vibes because he wanted the best for everyone’
‘To have a career like that and to leave marks like he did kind of gives you a little bit of immortality. He will be remembered forever.
‘If heaven has a game tonight, I know who is getting the ball. Colgate football mourns the loss of one of the best to ever do it. Prayers and support to the family of Jordan Scott.’
The Colgate Football team said in a statement: ‘Rest in peace, Jordan Scott. Colgate’s all-time leading rusher / scorer and a great person/teammate. You will be missed.’
Jordan also played football in Italy from 2011 to 2013 for the Warriors Bologna in the country’s top division for American Football.
Bologna Warriors teammate Gabriele Cirasol said: ‘Keep smiling, we will never forget you.’
The team said in a statement: ‘To his family are the deepest condolences of the entire Warriors family, for that fantastic memory of three years spent together on the fields throughout Italy, always with a dazzling smile, ready to help and also to receive the warmth that often only a cohesive sports group he can give.’
The Rajjaprabha Dam Reservoir, also known as the Cheow Lan Lake, is a 71 square mile artificial lake built in 1987 which is also used to generate hydroelectricity.
It is part of a national park and home to elephants and other wildlife as well as a large number of holiday resorts.