A 47-year-old woman from New Zealand, who was on what her family described as a “trip of a lifetime,” was tragically found dead in a Phuket hotel room. Her son, mourning the loss of his “best friend,” believes there’s more to the story than what local authorities have disclosed.

Karla Anne Drescher was discovered lifeless in her hotel bed near Kata Beach, a popular tourist area in Phuket, on Monday.

According to reports from the Phuket News, there were no visible injuries or signs of a struggle when Drescher’s body was found.

On the day she departed from her home in Darwin for the trip to Phuket, a friend wrote on her Facebook page, “Trip of a lifetime! I hope you’re ready for an adventure!”

“Enjoy your trip, Karla. You certainly deserve it,” another friend commented, expressing well-wishes.

During her stay in Thailand, Drescher shared her experiences on social media, including spa visits and a trip to an elephant sanctuary.

She shared a series of photos from Maya Bay, on the island of Ko Phi Phi Le, the location used in the hit Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach.

She wrote that the trip has been on her “bucket list” and “it did not disappoint”.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok was providing assistance to the family of a New Zealander who died in Thailand.

The case remains under investigation.