A former paramedic who was on a backpacking trip around the world died of dysentery in his filthy hotel room in Cambodia.
Ross Chagnon, 28, was pictured enjoying street food and beer in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 7 before arriving in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on April 10.
But the American traveler fell ill shortly afterwards – and joked with friends in a message the night before he died: ‘Pro Tip: Don’t Get dysentery’.
Mr Chagnon, from Brooklyn, New York, was found dead the following morning passed out after sitting on the side of his bed in a pair of boxer shorts.
Former paramedic Ross Chagnon (left) was on a backpacking trip around the world when he died of dysentery in his filthy hotel room in Cambodia
Mr Chagnon was pictured enjoying street food and beer in Bangkok’s Khao San Road days before his death
Staff at the Guest House Kiyo said they knocked on his door at 10am on Friday morning, when he was due to check out, but there was no reply.
Police arrived and examined the body before ruling that the death was not suspicious.
Officers said he had died from ‘fainting’. His body was taken to the Soviet Friendship Hospital.
On Monday, the hotel’s receptionist said: ‘He arrived on April 18 and was supposed to check out in the morning on April 20.
In his last Instagram post, Mr Chagnon shared a picture of himself with a monk in the Cambodian capital
Mr Chagnon shared this picture with a Cambodian woman during a visit to the country in October last year
‘We did not see him and went to his room to see if he had to stay longer. Our staff knocked and there was no reply. He was lying dead on the bed.
‘This caused a big shock and we contacted the police.’
Lieutenant Colonel Sam Srey from Cambodia Police said: ‘Mr Chagnon, a tourist, arrived at the guest house alone.
‘He collapsed on the bed, due to fainting or a heart attack. ‘His body was transferred to the hospital Medical Khmer Soviet Friendship to wait for family to get the body to their home country.’
The traveler, from Brooklyn, New York, poses with locals in Cambodia’s Kandal Province
Mr Chagnon is pictured in front of a tourist attraction during a trip to Bhutan
Mr Chagnon had visited 168 countries with just 24 more to go before reaching his goal of 192
Staff at the Guest House Kiyo said they knocked on his door at 10am on Friday morning, when he was due to check out, but there was no reply
Mr Chagnon had visited 168 countries and had just 24 more to go before reaching his target of 192.
Former colleagues at the New Britain EMS Academy in New Britain, Connecticut, have paid tribute to him.
In a statement, they said: ‘Ross Chagnon was a graduate of the first paramedic program class held at the Academy in 2012 known as the fabulous five.
‘He took a risk on a fledgling program and remained a dear friend to us. He worked as a National Registry evaluator and championed the reality that life is too short so we should enjoy it while we are here.
Former colleagues at the New Britain EMS Academy in New Britain, Connecticut, have paid tribute to Mr Chagnon (pictured)
The 28-year-old (left) was described as a ‘kind, gentle, adventurous soul who loved traveling’
‘As Lt Morrone put it, ‘He was a kind, gentle, adventurous soul who loved traveling and spending time knowing and meeting locals.’
‘You will be missed. Another great life cut short. His Instagram quote reads ‘legends never die.’
‘We agree and those you touched will keep your legend alive and well. RIP.’